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A 


STORY FOR MY FRIENDS. 


BY 


FKANZ HOFFMAN. 


J^rom tlje 


By h/haRBAUGH, D. D. 



1875. 


T‘2-1 ^ 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by the 
LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


Lancaster, Pa.: 

Inquirer Printing and Publishing Company, 
Stereotypers and Printers. 


coisrTEisrTS 


CHAPTER I. 

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy 5 

CHAPTER II. 

The Mappels 25 

CHAPTER III. 

Good Peter 38 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Neighbor’s Children and Mr. Beukelaer 50 

CHAPTER V. 

Panthers 65 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Return Home 82 

CHAPTER VII. 

Mynheer Seybel 95 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Yet another Christmas 103 



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CHRISTMAS! 


CHAPTER I. 

BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY ! 

On a dark day in November the first flakes of 
snow, like white down, circled through the air, 
silently covering streets and roofs as with a bright 
white veil. Little Jonathan Monkenwyk, a gentle, 
flaxen-haired, blue- eyed boy seven years old, stood 
at the window, and looking out through the large 
clear panes, watched the whirling flakes as they fell 
in countless numbers, and yet so silently and softly 
from the heavy skies to the earth. 

The ever- varying, ever new play of the millions 
of light, loosely adhering crystals, seemed greatly 
to delight the thoughtful mind of the boy ; for he 
did not become weary of feeding his eyes on the 
scene. Again and again he would fix his eyes on 
some very large flakes of snow, high, high up in the 
air, and follow them down through the chaos of 
whirling masses till with their fellows they softly 
nestled on the roof or in the street, thus losing 
themselves in the multitudes that had already fallen. 

Suddenly he clapped his hands with a new joy, 
turned away from the window into the well- warmed, 
comfortable, and somewhat splendid parlor, and 
with jubilant feelings cried out aloud: “Mother, 
guess of what the snow reminds me ! 0, what joy ! 

Why did I not think of it before !” 


( 5 ) 


, “ Of what, my child ?” asked the mother, a state- 

ly, beautiful woman, dressed in heavy silk — as she 
cast a smiling glance toward the boy. “Of what 
does the snow remind you 

“No, no, you must guess it, mother I It is easy ; 
you can easily guess it !” 

“Well, if I must guess, it may remind you 
of the fine sleighing of last year which gave you so 
much pleasure. Do you remember how merrily 
the bells rang, and how we glided, swiftly as a bird 
on the wing, over the smooth snow-covered road 
“ Yes, that was fine, wonderflilly fine !” answered 
the boy. “ The sun shone so brightly, the heavens 
were so blue and pure, the air sparkled with icy 
particles brilliant like diamonds, and the twigs of 
the trees glittered with crystal frost which had 
gathered on them during the previous night. Yes, 
yes, that was beautiful ; but you have not guessed 
right ! You must try again mother I” 

“ Very good ; it may remind you of your skat- 
ing with Peter Hemskerk on the frozen, glassy 
lake ? I know you enjoyed that very much ; 
although you always returned home half frozen.” 

“No, mother, no, that is not it I It was very 
fine, I know, to skim on the lake, and dart right 
through among the crowd of well-dressed people 
who whirled on their skates over the smooth ice ; 
and there was much hearty laughing when here and 
there one tumbled over. And Peter is a good 
fellow, for he drew me nicely after him on the little 
sled. But you have not guessed right, mother ; 
you must try again.” 

“ Is it possible ! Then it is not so easily guessed. 
You have given me a hard riddle to solve,” said his 
mother, smilingly. “ Perhaps the snow reminds you 


7 

of the large snow-man which Peter made in the 
yard 

Heyday ! That was a fine snow-man ; espe- 
cially when Peter had put on his head the large 
three-masted bonnet of red pasteboard, and made 
for him a large red mouth, and a monstrous mous- 
tache, and such awfully large eyes, and put in his 
face a red turnip for a nose I Yes, he looked very 
funny, mother ; but — ^you have not hit on the right 
thing yet !” 

“Then I must confess myself beaten, Jonathan 1’’ 
said Mrs. Monkenwyk. “ I can think of nothing 
else of which the falling snow could remind you. ” 

“ But the principal thing, mother, the principal 
thing ! Just remember ! No, I can’t tell you — 
you must guess it I” 

Mrs. Monkenwyk had long ago seen in what 
direction Jonathan’s thoughts were running, as any 
one might have judged from the calm, stolen smiles 
which played on her rosy lips ; but Jonathan did 
not observe it. Thus held at bay, he could finally 
no longer retain his secret, for it nearly burst his 
heart ; and springing from the settee, at the window, 
into the arms of his mother, he exclaimed aloud : 

“ Christmas ! Christmas I Christmas ! That now 
in four weeks it will be Christmas, and that the 
Christma.s-tree will be lighted up, and that the 
Christkindlein will bring me beautiful presents — 
of this the snow, whirling down without, reminds 
me ; for surely this is the pleasantest thing the 
winter can bring us. Christmas, mother ! Hey ! 
how strange you could not at once guess this !” 

“ Who can think of everything ?” replied his 
mother with the same stolen smile. “ And who 
knows whether the Christkindlein wi.l visit us this 


8 


year ? If the children during the year have not been 
pious and obedient, he will pass by the house, and 
hold tight the bag which contains all the Christ- 
mas blessings, and which he is wont to scatter over 
the tables I Who knows, who knows, Jonathan, how 
you will fare this Christmas 

“ 0 mother, you are jesting with me !” replied the 
boy, laughing, and hid his face in her bosom. “ I am 
not now as simple as in former years I Now I go 
to school, and know what Christkindlein it is that 
furnishes for us the Christmas table ! You are it, 
mother, you and father !” 

“ I, and father,” repeated his mother ; and her 
mild, tender countenance assumed an earnest ex- 
pression. I and father I Very true I But Jona- 
than, since you are so smart, as you say you are, 
you have, no doubt, also reflected from whose hand 
at last all good gifts come — all, the great and 
the little, which are enjoyed by us, that we may 
live and be happy ? How, my child ?” 

“Yes, mother, I know it! Every gift comes 
from God I This our school-master taught us ; 
and you, too, have long ago told me.” 

“ True, Jonathan ! and so God has also given 
us His Sou, the Saviour of the world, through w hom 
every blessing, and all our joy, has come to us, and 
none the less also the joy and the blessings which 
good children feel in expectation of holy Christ- 
mas. Both myself and your father, are only the in- 
struments w^hich the Christkindlein employs ; and 
so you see, Jonathan, that it is at last none other 
than the Saviour of the world, that spreads the 
table for children on the glad festival, and kindles 
the variegated lights on the Christmas-tree.” 

Jonathan listened attentivel}^, reflected a short 


9 


time on the words of his mother, and then earnestly 
said : ‘‘You are right, mother ; and I will never 
again laugh when you talk to me of the Christkind- 
lein, for I now see that I am not yet as wise as I 
thought I was.” 

“Well for you will it be, my child, if you shall 
always think thus,” answered his mother ; “for all 
the wisdom of man is nothing but ignorance, or 
knowledge in part, in the eyes of the Lord, who 
alone is the beginning and end of all wisdom.” 

Jonathan returned to the window, looked out 
again into the falling snow, and gave himself up 
to the flow of his own thoughts, which still led 
him on toward the gradually approaching happy 
festival of Christmas. In imagination he already 
saw before him the Christmas-tree covered with a 
hundred lights, and all kinds of sugar devices, and 
all the various beautiful things which were the end 
of his wishes and longings. Nothing did he desire 
more than a mill, with regular wheels, turning 
when sand or water is j^oured on it, with flour 
chests and round mill stones, with miller and mill- 
boy in white flowered coats ; and, besides this, a 
pretty stable with oxen and cows, and one with 
four brown horses in it, a ladder wagon with wool- 
sacks on it going toward town to market, and a 
poultry yard with chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys 
and peacocks — in short, j ust such a mill as the one 
he had visited with his mother the previous sum- 
mer, where he had been four full weeks to breathe 
the fresh country air that he might the sooner re- 
cover from the effects of the measles by which he 
had been confined to the house during nearly half 
the spring. To possess such a mill in miniature 
was his greatest wish, together with many other 


10 


wishes which might sound very extravagant to 
such as did not know how rich Jonathan’s parents 
were, and besides, that they had only this one child, 
whom very naturally they loved with great tender- 
ness. 

Mr. Monkenwyk, senior, the father of Jonathan, 
was a wealthy commercial merchant in Amsterdam. 
He owned a large three-story house on the market 
place, with side and back buildings, stored with 
large quantities of every kind of wares, coffee, 
sugar, spices from distant India, and all kinds of 
other products from strange lands ; he had three 
trading ships on the sea ; even the mill, where 
Jonathan and his mother, in the preceding summer, 
had spent such pleasant days, belonged to him ; 
in his counting-room ten clerks were employed, 
and a chief book-keeper attended to his settlements 
— and as thus, Mr. Monkenwyk had money in 
abundance, it may be well believed that he re- 
garded no expense, when the object was to prepare 
for his only son a happy Christmas. Only, Jona- 
than must know nothing of what is doing before 
Christmas has come, that he may the more enjoy 
the surprise ; and hence his mother always gave a 
very doubtful look whenever he spake of his wishes, 
and expressed all kinds of guesses and fears in 
reference to them, so that Jonathan, the nearer 
Christmas approached, only became more doubtful 
whether even a single one of his wishes would be 
fulfilled. 

Yery often did he speak of the matter to Peter 
Hemskerk. Peter was the son of the coachman, 
and although he was several years older than 
Jonathan, he was his school-companion, and ‘his 
best friend ; for Peter was full of kindness, and 


11 


friendliness, and withal a skillful, and dexterous 
youth, who was ever ready to please his young 
Master, gathering his wishes from his very eyes. 
Did Jonathan wish to take a walk in the free open 
country, Peter walked with him ; did he wish to 
have a bird which he had heard sing in the grove, 
or whose beautiful feathers had attracted his fancy, 
Peter caught it for him ; in short, Peter was Jona- 
than’s factotum and prime minister, and whatever 
lay on Jonathan’s heart he entrusted without re- 
serve to his faithful comrade, the honest Peter. 

The same was the case with the wishes, hopes, 
and fears in regard to the coming Christmas, and 
the presents it was likely to bring. 

“ What do you think Peter,” asked Jonathan 
once more, and for the hundredth time, the day 
before Christmas — “will the mill come or not ?” 

“I do not know,” replied Peter, laughing slyly 
to himself. “ Mr. Monkenwyk has confided nothing 
of the kind to me.” 

“Ah, Peter, surely you know more than you are 
willing to tell me ! Have you seen it — the mill ?” 

“ With no eye have I seen it, Jonathan I You 
are a funny boy. Do you think that your father, 
the Herr Monkenwyk, would entrust his secrets to 
me, an insignificant youth, the son of his coach- 
man ?” 

“ 0, be still Peter, I do not mean that. But you 
are so shrewd, and see everything that is going 
on ; and surely you have also seen the mill !” 

Peter shook his head. 

“ Nothing of it, Peter ? Not any part of it ?” 

Peter shook his head again. 

“ Not even the wheels ? Or the mill stones ?” 

Peter shook his head still more firmly. 


12 


“Ah, Peter you are good for nothing!’’ cried 
Jonathan, and was near breaking out in tears. 

But Peter laughed, drew him on his lap, and 
said: “you are a funny boy, Jonathan. Do you 
see ; if even I knew everything that is to be given 
you at Christmas, I would not tell you the smallest 
word of it. And why ? Because you would not 
have so much pleasure in it if you knew before- 
hand what the Christkindlein would bring. Pa- 
tience, Jonathan !” 

“ But if I get no mill, I will not care anything 
for the whole of Christmas !” said Jonathan. 

“ Do you see I now you have spoken like a fool- 
ish Jonathan,” answered Peter. “We must be 
grateful for all things. What if I should speak as 
you do ? Think of this Jonathan. The Christ- 
kindlein brings nothing at all to me ; at best, 
perhaps, a few nuts and apples ; and see ! I am 
still satisfied. Then be a wise, good, and sensible 
Jonathan, and not an ungrateful, murmuring boy, 
or you shall see that I will be angry with you, and 
will have nothing more to do with you.” 

“ Oh Peter, you must not speak so,” cried Jona- 
than, quite changed all at once, and frightened 
by this threat, which was not at all intended 
as such. “No, Peter, you must remain friendly 
toward me, for if I actually get the mill, with 
whom shall I carry on grinding but with you ? 
No, Peter, I am the miller, and you shall be the 
mill-boy I That will be fun, Peter — when the 
wheels turn, and the mill clatters klip, klap, and 
the stones whirl around, and we pour in the grain 
— Peter, I cannot imagine anything finer than 
that I” 

“Why, you can play with Philip, Jonathan,” 


13 


replied Peter, balancing the boy on his knee — 
“ with Philip Mappel. He suits you better than I, 
for he is always dressed in good clothes, and is the 
nephew of the chief book-keeper, whilst I am only 
the coachman’s son. Play with Philip Mappel, 
Jonathan !” 

“No, I do not wish to ! Not with Philip,” re- 
peated the boy and crept more fondly and closely 
up to Peter. 

“And why not, Jonathan ? He also is always 
friendly toward you, and gives you sweet-meats 
and candies as often as he sees you.” 

“Yes, that is all true ; but see, Peter, I still do 
not love him as I do you.” 

“ Why so, Jonathan ? you must have some rea- 
son for this ?” 

“ A reason, Peter ? yes, certainly I have a 
reason !” 

“What is it? What kind of a reason, Jona- 
than !” 

I have more than one reason,” replied the boy, 
thoughtfully. “ First, Philip does not play as 
pretty as you — not by far. Then, when I go walk- 
ing with him he is soon tired ; and climb like you 
he cannot, nor can he catch a bird ; and in 
winter on the ice he is soon cold, so that he does 
not hold out half an hour ; and then, do you see, 
Peter — all this is still no matter — but he despises 
poor people, whose clothes are not as good as his, 
and this is the worst I He has no good heart, 
Peter, and he is only friendly toward me because 
my father is rich and has much money, and because 
his uncle is chief book-keeper.” 

Why, Jonathan, this is foolish stuff which you 
are talking ! Then you also think that I am 
2 


14 


friendly to you only because I am a son of your 
father’s coachman ?” 

“No, no, you stupid Peter, that I do not think 
at all,” answered Jonathan. “You know well 
enough that this is not so. You are good to me 
because you have a good heart. You are good to 
all, also to poor people ; but Philip is not. Do 
you see ! only lately we met a little girl quite 
poorly clad, who asked us for alms, and she looked 
so miserable and hungry, that I felt pity for 
her ; but Philip spoke harshly to the poor child, 
and when she did not immediately go away, but 
with tears in her eyes extended her hand, he 
lifted his walking cane, and would have struck the 
poor child if I had not prevented him. I gave the 

child my purse, and then ” Jonathan himself 

broke off his story, and laughed aloud. 

“ Well, what then,” asked Peter, “ What did you 
then ?” 

“ Ah, Peter, that was fun,” continued Jonathan. 
“ It had displeased me that Philip acted so badly 
toward the poor, little, shivering beggar-child, and 
then something came into my head, and I asked 
Philip whether he had not some candies ; and then 
he drew a large paper full from his pocket and 
offered them to me. I took them, but instead of 
eating them, I called the poor little girl to me, and 
told her to spread her apron, and poured all the 
candies into her lap, perhaps thirty or forty, Peter ; 
and then you should have seen the sour face which 
Philip made when the little girl ran away with his 
candies I It is worth a laugh, Peter, you may 
believe it.” 

Then Jonathan laughed anew, and Peter joined 
in ; but soon Peter again grew serious and said : 


15 


“ True, it was not proper for Philip to threaten 
the little girl with his cane ; but you see that, 
toward you, he was still immediately kind, and 
gave you what you asked of him. Thus you have 
no reason to be displeased with him.” 

“Nor am I exactly angry with him, Peter,” 
answered Jonathan, “but I do not love so well to 
play with him as I do with you. Do you see, Peter, 
if I were poor, Philip would not be kind toward 
me, but would treat me in the same manner as he 
did the little girl ; but you would not — you would 
ever remain my faithful Peter. This I know 3mu 
would do, and if I had not a penny in my pocket ; 
and for this reason, Peter, for this reason, I love 
you.” 

“It may all be as you say, Jonathan,” replied 
Peter, thoughtfully. “ It may all be, but God for- 
bid that Philip may ever be put to this test, to 
show whether your words are true. Moreover you 
are, after all, not so dumb a Jonathan as I had 
thought, but on the contrary a very cunning and 
sly Jonathan; and because you love me as ^mu 
say, we will let matters stand as thej" are between 
us, and will remain good friends, and play with 
one another as before. But the mill, Jonathan, 
only put that out of your head, for nothing will 
come of it !” 

“ It would be a pity if it should turn out that 
you are right,” answered the boy. “But if it must 
be so, then, Peter, we will still not let it spoil our 
dear Christmas. If it is no mill, then it will be 
something else. To-morrow, Peter, we shall know! 
Hey day I to-morrow about this time, — to-morrow 
my heart will be glad ! And you also will be in 
the joy, Peter. I have already" asked mother that 


16 


it may be so, and she has promised me that she 
will call you in when the gift business comes off. 
If it were only to-morrow evening now, Peter !” 

“You must have patience, Jonathan — one day 
and one night are soon past,” said Peter. “And 
now, away ! I have yet some work to do. Go to 
your bed, and pray well before you sleep, and 
dream something pleasant, that to-morrow you 
may be fresh and in good spirits. Good night, 
Jonathan.” 

“ Good night, Peter,” responded the boy, and 
went. 

All night long he dreamed of wind-mills and of 
water-mills, and also heard the hearty clattering, 
klip, klap ; only it was not the mills that clattered 
but the window shutter at his sleeping room at 
which the cold north-west wind was prying. Still, 
Jonathan slept till broad day light ; and now at 
length the day had come to which he had looked 
longingly forward for weeks past. 

This d^y, it is true, passed slowly enough for 
him ; much more slowly than any other day in the 
year ; and it seemed to the impatient boy as if it 
would never come to an end, although it is in fact 
one of the shortest days in the year. Still the 
day at length passed away ! one hour gave place 
to another, the forenoon to the afternoon, and at 
length the shadows in the corners of the room 
told that twilight was gradually coming in. Now 
Jonathan was glad, and felt an inward jubila- 
tion ! At last the servant brought a light into the 
room, as it had become quite dark without ; 
and Jonathan already thought that the light, as 
it entered, was the first gleam from the Christ- 
mas-tree, till by his father he was taught some- 


17 


thing else ! Mr. Monkenwyk had come in, mainly, 
in order to confine Jonathan, for half an hour before 
the distribution of the gifts, in a darkroom, accord- 
ing to a custom kept up in the family from remote 
times. Thus, when the children should come forth 
from the dark room into the bright Christmas- 
chamber, the brilliancy of a hundred lights would 
strike them with double power, and to effect 
this increase of the surprise the arrangement 
was made. 

At the same time in this confinement there was 
for Jonathan at least, another object. He was 
alone — darkness was around him — his spirit was 
awake in this anticipation of the coming jo}^ — and 
hence the minutes seemed to creep along like 
snails. 

He reflected ! 

This was the first Christmas which he had spent 
with a full consciousness of what it signified ; for 
the former Christmas days seemed to have passed 
away more like dreams, because he had been too 
young to comprehend the significance of the beau- 
tiful festival. But now it was otherwise. He knew 
why Christmas was celebrated ; and besides, the 
beating joy in his heart, he felt a deep inward 
gratitude toward that Saviour to whom he was 
indebted for this joy. 

“Yes, yes,” he murmured to himself, “I will 
always be right good and pious throughout the 
whole year that I may be worthy of the blessed- 
ness with which our dear Christmas festival re- 
joices us children ; and mother shall never again 
have reason to complain of me.” 

“Excellent good thought,” said a deep-toned 
voice. “But listen Jonathan, what you have 
2* B 


18 


thus vowed to yourself is not enough, 3'ou must 
do more.” 

“ What shall I do ? And who are you !” asked 
Jonathan, somewhat frightened, although he was 
not really afraid, for he was in the house of his 
parents, where certainly no evil could befal him. 

‘‘Who am I?” repeated the voice, hollow ‘and 
low — “ I am Knecht Ruprecht, who on Christmas 
evening make glad the good children, and put the 
bad boys in my sack, and carr^’^ them away ! 
Now, you know me ! Are 3^ou afraid of me ?” 

“No,” answered Jonathan, firml}". “No, I am 
not afraid, for to my knowledge I have done no 
evil.” 

“ That is not sufficient !” replied Knecht Ru- 
precht with a threatening warning voice, “It is 
not enough to do no evil, we must also have the 
good firm will to do some good ! Have you this 
will, Jonathan?” 

“The will I have,” answered the boy, “but a 
resolution I have hitherto not made. But from 
now I will so resolve.” 

“ What resolution ?” asked Knecht Ruprecht. 

“ To do all the good I can,” answered the boy. 
“ And in any case I will vow that no Christmas 
evening shall pass over without doing some good, 
and cause joy in some one. This is m^^ determi- 
nation, and I will never either forget, or break 
this vow !” - ' 

“ Grood, Jonathan I this is a resolution well- 
ideasing to God ; and for the sake of your pious 
resolution your Christmas joy shall no longer be 
disturbed. God bless you I We will see each 
other again !” 

A blue flame blazed up, and was suddenly ex- 


19 


tinguished again, and by the faint light which it 
shed, Jonathan beheld a large form, which seemed 
to have enormous horns on its head, and then all 
was dark again ; and Knecht Ruprecht vanished 
as noiselessly as he had come I 

Strange,” thought Jonathan, ‘‘that I did not 
know him ! Could it have been father ? Yet this 
is not possible for he is engaged in the room. Or 
is it Mr. Mappel, the chief book-keeper? No, it 
cannot be, for he has long since gone home ! I 
cannot guess it ; and yet his voice, though 
somewhat disguised, sounded as familiar to me as 
if I had heard it daily from 3^ear to ^^ear. Peter it 
was, after all. Yet, no ! Peter is not much larger 
than m^'self, whilst the horns of this Knecht 
Ruprecht reached to near the ceiling of the room. 
“Well, no matter,” he continued, — “ It msiy have 
been who it will, my promise I will keep as long 
as I live, as I solemnly vowed to him and m3"self !” 

Whilst he was muttering these words to himself, 
a stream of light in the same moment, shone 
brightly through the dark chamber, so that Jona- 
than was frightened and near believing that he was 
seeing a supernatural appearance. But when he 
looked more cai-efully he saw that the light came 
in through a small crevice in the door of the side 
room, and thus the riddle of the strange apparition 
was explained in the simplest and most natural 
manner. 

“ Father is kindling the lights on the Christmas- 
tree !” mused Jonathan in his heart. “Now soon 
the bell will jingle, and I will be called into the 
Christmas room, where the tree is !” 

For a moment curiosity urged him strongly to 
creep to the door and look slyly through the 


20 


opening if perchance he might see what is going 
on; but he soon quelled this inquisitive feeling, 
and it was very well that he did so, for now the 
bell rung in loud tones, and wide, wide open flew 
the door, and a flood of lights like a sea of flame, 
rolled from that spacious Christmas room ; and 
now, with a shout of rapture and overwhelming 
joy, Jonathan rushed forward into the middle of 
the clear, bright, glittering sea of light ! 

Shall I tell you and describe what it was that 
Christkindlein had brought for the lucky Jona- 
than ? The beautiful and refreshing were there in 
rich abundance ; for I have alread}^ told you that 
Jonathan’s parents were veiy wealthy people, that 
he was not only their only son, but also an active, 
obedient, pious boy, in whom any parent would 
have had pleasure even if he had not been an only 
son. 

Well, a mill was there ! Only it was far, far 
more beautiful than Jonathan had imagined or 
desired — a mill with three large water-wheels and 
three sets of mill-stones, a mill that clattered in so 
lively a manner that it could be heard in the upper 
story of the house wdien it was set in motion 
below, a very regularly made mill, with real 
miniature mill-stones, which would grind grains, 
and with actual running water which, flowing 
down from a large reservoir, turned the wheels, 
and which afterwards, when the reservoir w^as 
empty, by means of a small hand pump, could 
very easily be pumped back again ; a mill wdth a 
poultry yard, with cow and horse stables, with 
meadows and a small w^oods ; a mill with mill- 
wagon and mill-bags in a large storage house in 
which were deposited three full pecks of corn, 


21 


which were in future to be ground. In short, it 
was a real pleasure only to see it ! But now to be 
the owner of this mill — to express such a joy 
Jonathan found no words ! He stood and won- 
dered, and listened to the cheerful klip, Map, 
which fell upon his ear, without interruption and 
so delightfully, till his full heart at length burst 
forth in tears of joy, and he was no longer able to 
contain himself, but fell upon the neck, first of his 
mother and then of his father, stammering as he 
could, words of gratitude. 

Truly, Jonathan had reason to be thankful. 
For besides the wonderful and beautiful mill, 
there lay, as we have said, scattered over the table, 
brilliant in the light of the Christmas-tree, yet 
many other beautiful things, and all seemed to call 
to the happy boy; “Behold, I bring you good 
tidings of great joy, for unto you is born this day, 
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!’’ Jonathan 
experienced this joy, felt it in his inmost heart, 
and from it streamed forth in his glistening, 
sparkling eyes, and from his smiling countenance 
which was covered as with hues of roses. He 
hurried from one object to another, wondered at 
everything, praised it all, rejoiced over all — ^now 
over the brilliant cross-bow of mahogany wood 
ornamented richly with silver, and then the fort 
with walls and ditches, with cannon, and soldiers 
who stood marshaled in uniform and rank ; now 
his eye kindled with new delight as he viewed the 
large and splendid boxes of building material 
with hundreds of building stones, joists, columns, 
and arches, and then the beautiful red picture 
books with stories and fables, which promised him 
thousand fold entertainment I And thus he was 


22 


so immersed in all these delights we have men- 
tioned, and still many more which we have not 
time even to mention, that he forgot all else, and 
even also the vow which he had a short time before 
made in the dark room to himself and Knecht 
Riiprecht. 

Yet, no I — in this we do injustice to Jonathan. 
For suddenly he grew quiet and in earnest ; a 
thoughtful look spread over his countenance, still 
glistening with bliss and jo}'', and with close scru- 
tiny he surveyed the presents which Christkindlein 
had just spread before him. 

“What is the matter, Jonathan?” asked his 
mother. “ Are you no longer glad, or do you miss 
something that your heart had desired ?” 

“Oh, my dear mother, how could I be so un- 
kind, so dissatisfied, and so unthankful as, in the 
the midst of such abundance, still to wish for and 
desire more ?” replied Jonathan. “No, it is not 
that which has fallen upon my heart !” 

“And wFat else might it be ?” asked his' father. 

Then Jonathan related to them what he had 
thought and dreamed in the dark chamber, and 
what he had promised Knecht Ruprecht, and that 
now he would not, on the first Christmas evening, 
be unfaithful to his vow, but would certainly make 
some one happy, and that this one should be none 
other than Peter Hemskerk, the coachman’s son ! 

“And wherefore, Peter?” asked his father, 
whilst his mother was rejoicing over the good reso- 
lution of her son, and with gentle hand stroking 
his locks, “ Why should it be Peter and no one 
else ?” 

“Because he loves me, and also creates joy 
wherever he can,” answered Jonathan; “and if 


23 


you will allow it, father, and you my good mother, 
I will now quickly prepare a Christmas table for 
him, and put on it some of the many things with 
which you, my dear parents, have so richly pre- 
sented me.” 

“ Do so, my son !” answered his father, well 
pleased, and his mother lent him her aid in ar- 
ranging the table ; and J onathan placed the fort 
on it, and laid the cross-bow beside it, the very 
present which, except the mill, he had prized most 
highly, and which had given him the greatest plea- 
sure. • His mother suggested to him that he might 
lay something else on the table, and that Peter 
would rejoice just as much over it ; but Jonathan 
answered smilingly : “And what pleasure would I 
have in it, if my making of presents to him did 
not require some conquering of self ? Peter shall 
see that I give freely, even when I must bring him 
an offering that costs me a little self-denial.” 

His mother said no more, but only pressed a kiss 
on the pure forehead of her boy. Then Jonathan 
darted away and called Peter ; but before he led 
him into the Christmas room, Peter had to permit 
his eyes to be tied with a handkerchief. This 
done, he led him right in front of his table, sud- 
denly drew the band from his eyes, and cried out 
with joy : “ Happy Christmas, Peter ! Behold I 
this the ChristkinMein has brought for you 1” 

Peter stared, wondered, and would not believe 
that Jonathan was in earnest in what he said. 
But when at length he was convinced, and had to 
believe that all was even so, he was greatly rejoiced 
and moved ; and as he pressed Jonathan’s hand, 
tears glistened under his eye lashes. 

“ Do you see, Jonathan, it is not the presents, 


24 


beautiful as they are, which I value most,” said 
Peter ; “no, no, it is that I now see that you do 
love me, and have a good heart, and, Jonathan” — 
he added more softly — “ it is that you have not in 
your joy forgotten Knecht Ruprecht, but remember 
others also, to make them happy — do you see, this 
it is that so rejoices my soul, and never, as long as 
I live, will I forget you, and this evening ; you are 
a good, dear Jonathan, and I, — I will always be 
your faithful Peter, as long as you will permit me 
to be near you I” 

Then Jonathan smiled, and as he embraced 
Peter, he whispered into his ear : “You were 
Knecht Ruprecht, Peter ? Now I know it, since you 
yourself have intimated it.” 

“Yes, it was myself: and I thought I would 
frighten you a little, but you acted bravely, Jona- 
than. ” 

“ Hey-day ! why not ? How could any evil 
befal me on the dear, holy Christmas eve, and 
in the house of my parents ? On this I thought, 
Peter ; and therefore I was not frightened in 
the least. But how comes it that you looked so 
tall with 3^our horns ?” 

“ That was easily arranged, Jonathan I I had 
hung a cow’s skin over me ; and the head with its 
horns I carried on a hay fork, high above me. Do 
you see ?” 

“Yes, I understand it,” answered Jonathan. 

But come now, and take a view of my mill ! see, 
here it stands, and it is very beautiful, although 
you said I would get no mill at all !” 

“Well, was not that better, little, simple Jona- 
than, than if I had said the contrary, and you 
would have gotten none. But see, beautiful it 


25 


certainly is ! Beautiful i..nd excellent ! And it 
grinds too I A real mill, Jonathan !” 

“ A real, true mill, Peter I Just see !” 

And Jonathan opened the sluices, and the water 
streamed down from the reservoir ; the wheels 
turned, the mill-stones whirled round, the grains 
rolled in, it clattered klip klap, klip klap, and Peter 
rejoiced, and Jonathan rejoiced, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Monkenwyk rejoiced so much that they helped to 
play with the mill, like children ; and so was ful- 
filled in them what is written by St. Luke ii : 10, 
11 : “Behold I bring you good tidings of great 
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is 
born this day, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord !” 


CHAPTER IL 

THE MAPPELS. 

More than seven full years have now passed 
since that happy Christmas eve. Seven long 
years which those changes of joy and sorrow, pain 
and pleasure, happiness and misery, bring to every 
one, — ^yes, to every one, high or low, rich or. poor, 
great or small. Time spares no one, but brings 
to each their gifts, be these painful or pleasant ; 
and these must all be received with resignation to 
the unsearchable ways of God, who alone knows 
what will at least lead the human heart to salva- 
tion and blessedness. 

Seven years had fled ; and they had not passed 
by without also leaving behind them in the house 
of Mr. Monkenwyk, their deep and abiding traces. 

3 


26 


Jonathan was now no more a child, but had 
grown up to be a fresh, blooming youth. Seven 
times, since that evening, he had celebrated the 
happy Christmas festival, but never again with the 
same full, rich, happy feelings, which, at that time, 
swelled his breast. During the first year after that 
Christmas, death took his mother from him ; and 
thoughts of her, the beloved, the departed, cast a 
gloomy shadow over the brilliant scene which 
afterwards, as before, gilded the Christmas festival 
of the boy — or at least was designed to do so. 
Jonathan could not forget his mother ; the loss 
of her was too painful ; whenever the holy eve 
returned, she was missed — she whose loving tender 
heart alone gave the blessed festival its true con- 
secration, and shed upon it the calm, bright, pure 
radiance of joy and love. 

But as Jonathan did not forget his mother, 
so also did he not forget the vow which he had 
made for himself on that holy evening. He let no 
Christmas festival pass by without at least doing 
some good, without making some one heart glad, 
which, but for him, had perhaps spent the dear 
holy eve in dark dreary jo^dessness. True, he 
could no more make his faithful Peter as happy 
as he wished to do. Peter’s father had bought for 
himself a very small home in the country, not far 
from Amsterdam, and here he spent his old age in 
peace and contentment ; dug his little spot of 
ground, cultivated it with his own hands, sowed 
and reaped, and earned, in this way, his honest bread, 
even though he got little more than that. But 
Peter was not willing to be burdensome to his 
father, and hence went out to try his fortune in the 
world, and for a whole year Jonathan heard 


27 


nothing more of him ; however, often he thought, 
in lonely hours, of his honest and good Peter, who, 
till the last hour of their being together, had 
always remained his faithful friend. 

That the faithful old Hemskerk had given up his 
position as coachman in the family, has its valid 
ground. After the death of his wife, Mr. Mon- 
kenwyk was no more the same man he had been 
before ; no more the serene, glad, lively man ; no 
more the calm business man who could, with ease, 
superintend and direct, with rare and keen ability, 
the extensive scene of his activit}^. He grew quiet, 
reserved and dreamy, and even more quiet, as he 
discovered that his business was no more going 
forward as smoothly and profitably as in earlier 
and better times, when his wife was still living 
and acting by his side. 

Years bring fortune, and bring misfortune ! 

Earlier years had brought Mr. Monkenw3d^ rich 
and abundant fortune ; but now they brought him 
much more that was painful than joyful ; and Mr. 
Mappel, his chief book-keeper, had seldom an^dhing 
but bad news to bring him when he made report on 
the course and current of business. Mr. Mon- 
kenwyk always received it, at least apparently, 
with calmness, and never uttered a word of anger 
or wrath. But he studied economy — curtailed his 
expenses. First he disposed of his horses and 
carriage ; and, very naturally, as there was no 
more driving to be done, the coachman was also no 
longer needed, and so the honest old Hemskerk 
took his leave and removed to the country. 

As the news of loss and misfortune increased, 
and Mr. David Mappel came into the quiet cur- 
tain-shaded private room of Mr. Monkenwyk 


28 


oftener, and still oftener, to ask for money or other 
means of covering liabilities incurred, Mr. Mon- 
kenwyk at length said : “ Sell the house and the 
mill, bring my affairs into order and to settlement, 
and pay the balance over to me. I wish to retire 
from business, and I trust sufficient, will be left 
to me that I and my son may live from it. True 
it is not a great fortune, but riches alone do not 
bestow happiness.” 

Mr. Mappel, a lean, pale man with blinking eyes, 
and an humble fawning manner, ever wore an 
accommodating smile on his lips when he spoke 
with Mr. Monkenwyk, bowed to the earth and 
withdrew. But Mr. Monkenwyk called him back 
again. 

‘‘ Listen, Mappel,” said he, “ in order once for all 
to bring matters to a close, I will give you the 
fixed price at which I will sell. What is the last 
balance ?” 

“ A small deficit of sixty thousand dollars, sir,” 
answered Mappel, ‘humbly. 

“ Sixty thousand dollars ? That is a large sum, 
Mappel,’’ said Mr. Monkenwyk. “ Only day before 
yesterday they spoke of twenty thousand.” 

“Very true, very true,” said Mr. Mappel, and 
bowed again. “Still new payments — new de- 
mands — shall I bring the books, and — then you can 
satisfy yourself.” 

“ ]No," no, Mappel, I trust you I” said Mr. Mon- 
kenwyk, interrupting him. “ Moreover what will be 
gained by it ? Well, dispose of the mill for two 
hundred thousand dollars. Between brothers it is 
worth fifty thousand dollars more. And, as re- 
gards the house, sixty thousand dollars will be a 
fair price, and just cover my debts. Adieu, Map- 


29 


pel ! It is my wish that within eight days all 
things ma}^ be arranged and concluded.’’ 

“ Mr. Mappel noiselessly glided away. When 
he was gone, Mr. Monkenwyk turned toward one 
of the high arched windows, and said : “ Jonathan, 
my son, when my affairs are settled we will live in 
quiet and peace together, far from the noise and the 
avaricious rush of the world, reserved and alone, 
and, therefore, more happy than now, when we can 
scarcely enjoy one peaceful hour.” 

“ Yes, father, I have heard your determination, 
and am satisfied that w^e shall be thus withdrawn 
from cares of business,” said Jonathan, coming out 
from the curtains of the window, where he had 
listened to the whole conversation of his father 
with Mappel. “You are right, father; riches 
alone cannot bestow happiness.” 

Mr. Monkenwyk stroked the blooming cheeks of 
his boy, sighed and said: “ Yes, Jonathan, if only 
mother w^ere yet alive !” 

Then he sunk into his usual sadness, and re- 
mained silent, gloomy and reserved till late in the 
evening, although Jonathan endeavored to divert 
him from his sad thoughts and enliven him. 

“ Go to your rest, Jonathan,” said Mr. Mon- 
kenwyk at length, arousing himself, as the richly 
gilded clock on the mantle-piece struck the 
eleventh hour. “ Embrace me once more, my son ! 
Go ! And now, good night, good night, my child !” 

His voice had become unusually tender as he 
spake the last words. He drew Jonathan to his 
breast, and kissed him affectionately twice, thrice, 
something that he had not done for a long time 
before. Jonathan felt quite hapi)y at these marks 
of tender affection which he had lately so seldom re- 
3 * 


30 


ceived, and went to bed more cheerful than usual. 
The poor youth did not dream of what awaited him 
next morning. Had he known it he would not 
have closed an eye during that night. 

In the morning when the old housekeeper, Liese 
Crabetje, brought his coffee to his room, he asked 
as usual about his father. 

“Master is not yet awake,” answered Liese. 
“When he rings I will let you know, Jonathan.” 

It was nine o’clock ; it struck ten, and Mr. Mon- 
ken wyk did not ring the bell. Liese Crabetje 
brought breakfast, and with it the intelligence that 
Mr. Monkenwyk had not yet left his sleeping room. 
.This alarmed Jonathan, and he began to feel very 
uneasy. His father was in the habit of rising 
punctually at seven o’clock, and yet he slept so 
long ! This must mean something. 

“Good Liese,” said Jonathan, “knock at his 
door, and listen whether father will answer. ” 

Liese nodded assent, went away, and, only after 
a long while, returned with signs of alarm pictured 
on her countenance. 

“He does not hear, Jonathan,” she said. “I 
knocked ten times, and at last as loud as I was 
able, and also called, but received no answer, Jona- 
than. Not the least stir could I hear ! All is still 
as death in the room !” 

Jonathan grew pale with alarm. “ Come, Liese,’’ 
he said, “ we must open the door, for I fear some- 
thing may have happened to father.” 

Thus resolved, he went to the bed-chamber of 
his father and pressed the latch. Contrary to his 
expectations, the door was not bolted inside ; but 
darkness reigned in the chamber, as the curtains 
had not yet been withdrawn. 



i-' • '1 "■ 



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31 


‘‘ Draw them aside softly,” said Jonathan, with 
trembling voice, as he drew up to the tester-bed of 
his father. 

Just as he threw apart the curtains, Liese drew 
aside the hangings of the window, and the bright 
light of day streamed into the room. With a 
shriek, Jonathan turned away from the bed, only 
the next moment to throw himself in despair back 
upon it ! The first ray of the sun that fell through 
the window gleamed upon the pale forehead and 
closed e3'es of Jonathan’s father ! One glance was 
enough to convince Jonathan that he was ah 
orphan ! Mr. Monkenwyk, during the night, had 
slumbered softly away into a more beautiful life in 
Heaven. 

Fourteen days — ^three weeks passed away, and 
still Jonathan did not leave the room in which, 
with deep and pungent sorrow, he mourned the loss 
of his father. He had no desire to see any one, 
and could bear no one to be about him, except the 
good old Liese Crabetje, with her honest and truth- 
ful face, who spoke comfort to him as well as she 
could. Often had an old secretary of the sainted 
Monkenwyk — Yanderhaan was his name — called, 
and announced himself through Liese, but Jona- 
than, although he knew the old secretary as an 
excellent man, had no desire to see him or speak 
with him. Full ten times had Liese to deny 
him admission, notwithstanding his importunate 
requests, and in spite of his assurances that he had 
the most important communications to make to the 
youth, — and even the elev^ith or twelfth time she 
was about to refuse him access to Jonathan, when 
he came one day with a most anxious countenance 
and deep wrinkles wrought upon his forehead. 


32 


“ Good Crabetje,” said he, seating himself, in a 
determined manner, on a chair in the ante-cham- 
ber, “now I will not permit myself to be sent away 
again ! Here will I remain, and not move from this 
spot, even if I see no bed this night. Tell this to 
the young man, Crabetje; and tell him also,” — he 
added more softly and with sly glances, — “ tell him 
that below in the counting house all things are not 
as they ought to be, and that he may easily lose 
house, home, and inheritance, if he does not himself 
look after his rights. You know, Crabetje, that I 
have been for many years a servant in this house, 
and that I have always taken a true and honest 
interest in all its affairs. Go, therefore, Crabetje, 
and tell young Jonathan that I desire to see him, 
and must speak with him, even if I should be dis- 
missed from his service !” 

The honest Liese was alarmed, for the old secre- 
tary stared her in the face with most ominous 
looks, and sat with such firm determination on his 
chair in the ante-chamber, that it was easy to be 
seen that he would not move from the spot, till he 
had gained his point. So Crabetje yielded, opened 
the door of the chamber, and said: “Mr. Yander- 
haan, here is the room, and here is the 3"Oung man. 
If you will venture to go to him !” 

The old secretary hesitated not a moment. 
With a firm step he entered the room ; nor did he 
drawback when Jonathan, on his entrance, aroused 
himself, and earnestly asked : “ What do you 

wish ? I can speak to no one ! To no one ! Do 
you hear ! Withdraw yourself ! I wish to be 
alone ! ” 

Yanderhaan did not withdraw, but took a chair, 
and seated himself right before Jonathan, took 


33 


hold of both his hands, and then said ; “ God 
grant that there may yet be time, and that I may 
not be too late I You shall, you must listen to me, 
Jonathan I You are being cheated and robbed; 
and I, poor, old secretary, cannot prevent it, 
because I have not the power ; but speak I can, 
speak I will, and I tell you Jonathan, that both the 
Mappels, David as well as his nephew Philip, will 
rob and cheat you — steal all ^’’ou have, cheat you 
out of all you possess, if you do not instantly 
interfere, and drive them both away from the estab- 
lishment ! Now you know whj^ I have forced 
myself in. You know me well, Jonathan ; you 
know very well that I am no liar or deceiver. 
Now do as you think best, and what you think to 
be necessary and right 1” 

Jonathan was compelled to listen to the old 
secretary, who would not suffer himself to be put 
off : and, although the young man at first looked 
at him in a very gruff and angry manner, never- 
theless, the exiDression of his countenance gradually 
changed, and at length he looked less displeased, 
and more earnest and considerate. 

“My dear Yanderhaan,” he answered, “how 
shall I understand all this ? Do you really intend 
to say that the Mappels are acting dishonorably 
towards me ?” 

“Yes, this I would say, and this I repeat,” re- 
plied the old secretary, letting Jonathan’s hands 
drop, as he very well saw that now he had no 
more disposition to escape from him, — “both the 
old and the young Mappel are defrauding you — 
this I maintain.” 

“ And in what way do they defraud me ? Speak 
my friend !” 


34 


“ They have sold the mill, onathan.” 

“ Right ! This they were directed to do I I 
myself was present when my sainted father en- 
trusted the chief bookkeeper with that business.” 

“ Directed him to sell the mill for one-fifth of its 
value ? To sell it for the trifling sum of forty 
thousand dollars ? And to sell this large and 
beautiful house for ten thousand dollars ?” ex- 
claimed the honest Yanderhaan with excited 
feelings. “ Did you hear this from your sainted 
father ?” 

Jonathan was frightened. “Impossible!” said 
he. “I have heard it said that the mill should be 
sold for two hundred thousand, and the house for 
sixty thousand. So my sainted father directed I” 

“ So I would have supposed I So I should have 
thought I” added the secretary. “ Now then, why 
do you delay ? Down into the counting-room, 
drive out the rogues, and make their transactions 
null and void and prevent their injurious results ! 
Haste! haste, Jonathan ! There is not a moment 
to be lost, and I fear, we are even now, alas ! too 
late !” 

Jonathan had become pale ; for if the honest 
secretary was right, he would be in the condition 
of a beggar. He quickl}^ composed himself; ad- 
vanced with a determined spirit toward the door, 
and said : “ Follow me, friend ! I will look after 
matters, and change the order of things !” 

When Jonathan, in former times, while his father 
lived, occasionally visited this place of business, 
he was received by no one in a more kind and 
friendly manner than by Mr. David Mappel, the 
chief bookkeeper, who always bowed nearly to 
the earth before the son of the principal, and never 


35 


spoke to him except with words of the most gra- 
cious reverence. When Jonathan entered to-day 
he could not fail at once to observe that some 
great change had taken place in many respects. The 
counting-room, almost always filled and animated 
by clerks, was empty ; and, beyond the two 
Mappels, no one was found in it, except a small, 
hump-backed, shrivelled fellow, in a shabby coat, 
who had the appearance of a half cast-off mes- 
senger of the court. Beside, the chief book- 
keeper by no means greeted the young owner of 
the house with his wonted flattering politeness ; on 
the contrary, Mr. Mappel, at his appearance, 
assumed a very shameless, bold, and arrogant air, 
and asked, impudently : “ What do you want here, 
young man ?” 

“ To see that all is right, Mr. Mappel !” answered 
Jonathan in a firm voice, and with a fearless and 
threatening glance of the eye. Lay the account- 
books before me, Mr. Maj^pel.” 

The bookkeeper laughed loud, and scornful^. 
“ The account-books ? What do you want with 
them ? What do you know, you — greenhorn ?” 

The account-books ! this moment ! I command 
you to do it ; and I suppose I am master here, and 
that my directions are to be obeyed !” 

“ Do you hear, you Mr. Seybel,” said Mappel, 
turning to the strange man with the threadbare 
coat, “ do you hear how beautifully the young ser- 
pent knows how to hiss f It is a fine thing that 
we have, in advance, extracted its poisonous teeth ! 
And, as to yourself Master J onathan Monkenwyk, 
know you, without any further trouble, that here in 
this house, and in the counting-room you have no 
further orders to give — ^yes, just nothing to say, for 


36 


the house of Monkenwyk has suspended its pay- 
ments, and has been compelled to declare itself 
bankrupt.” 

“A lie! — a bold, shameful, impudent lie!” ex- 
claimed Jonathan. '‘You will be compelled to 
give an account to me of all your transactions.” 

“ Quite right, young man !” replied Mappel, with 
cold scorn. “ As much account as you please ! 
Here’s mein Herr, a well-accredited, royal Dutch 
notary, who has aided us in arranging the affairs of 
this house; you can ask him.” 

Jonathan, pale with excitement, turned toward 
the notary, and looked at him inquiringly. 

" Quite correct ! all quite correct !” said the man 
in a hoarse tone, nodding his head, while a wicked 
smile played upon his sharp and bloodless lips. 
" My friend David Mappel has, by authority duly 
given, taken charge of the house and mill of the 
blessed, departed Monkenwyk, and with the income 
he has paid such claims against the house of Mon- 
kenwyk as he was legally authorized to discharge. 
Here are the vouchers, contracts and all in proper 
order. Besides this, the Herr Mappel, as I see from 
the accounts, has yet claims against the house of 
Monkenwyk to the amount of ten thousand dollars, 
which sum must be paid by yourself.” 

"And the mill ? inquired Jonathan, almost beside 
himself through surprise. 

" The mill, the Herr Mappel has taken on him- 
self at the extravagant price of forty thousand 
dollars !” 

" Shameful defraudei s ! The sale is invalid ! On 
what day was it concluded ? 

" On the day before the death of the sainted 
Monkenwyk !” 


37 


“ Thus on the very da}^ on wnich my father fixed 
the price of the mill at two hundred thousand dol- 
lars,” said Jonathan, with a look of the deepest 
contempt toward Mappel. “You are a rogue! 
You shall answer before the court for your con- 
duct, which is shameful, dishonest, and mean 1” . 

“ Before the court ?” said Mappel, smiling scorn- 
fully. “ Do you forget that I have a full right to 
sell, having been fully empowered by your own 
father, which I shall swear to any moment ? Do 
you forget that you are my debtor — debtor to the 
amount of ten thousand dollars — and that 1 can 
have you taken at any moment by the bailiff, and 
cause you to be cast into prison ? Do you forget 
that you are a beggar, a poor miserable, low, hu- 
miliated beggar, who has not a penny in his 
pocket ? Away with you, beggar-like villain I 
This day, this hour, leave this house, of which not 
a tile on the roof any longer belongs to you ; and 
if you shall dare, at any time to cross the sill of 
the door — if you shall dare to utter one slanderous 
word in regard to me, reckon on it, that you shall 
be confined for life in the debtors’ prison 1 And 
away with you also, old Mr. Y anderhaan, since you 
have attempted, in this my house, to act as spy and 
tell-tale. Away with you both, or I shall call the 
bailifis and have you cast out upon the street I” 

Jonathan was white as the lime on the wall as 
he was compelled to hear these base words from 
the mouth of a rogue, who had, beyond all doubt, 
swindled him out of his paternal inheritance. Yet 
he controlled his excited feelings, and with a firm 
and fearless voice, said : 

■ “Well! I fear that I am the victim of a mean, 
bold, cunningly devised, and successfully executed 
4 


38 


scheme of rascality I I go I But know this, you 
miserable defrauder ; know this you equally guilty 
accessory to a mean transaction ; know both of 
you, that if even on earth no justice may be found 
for a poor orphan boy, there lives a Judge yonder 
above the clouds, who shall judge between you 
and me ! I feel — I have a presentiment — I know 
that we do not for the last time stand in each 
other’s presence in regard to this matter I A day 
will come when a reward shall be rendered accord- 
ing to the justice of the eternal God ! — and then — 
wo to the guilty, wo to the dishonest, wo to the 
robbers of innocent orphans !” 


CHAPTER III. 

GOOD PETER. 

“For God’s sake, Jonathan,” said the honest 
old Yanderhaan, when, after the violent outburst of 
indignation he had witnessed — he was leading the 
excited youth oat of the counting-room to his 
chamber — “listen to me. What have you done? 
Mappel will never forgive you 1 And what if he 
now proceeds to extreme measures ? What if he 
actually carries out his threats, and casts you into 
prison ? Alas I he has the power, and is a wicked, 
wicked man I” 

“ No, no ; he will not venture to do that,” replied 
Jonathan. “There has been dishonesty, and the 
defrauder must fear lest things come to the light 
should he carry forward this shameful business to 
the utmost point. You may make yourself easy; 
he will not attempt it.” 


39 


“ He that has ventured the greater will not hesi- 
tate to undertake the less,” replied Yanderhaan, 
with a significant shake of the head. “He will not 
rest until he has banished you from this house into 
the street, and reduced you to a state of complete 
beggary. Provide against it, Jonathan! Yield, 
and accommodate yourself to the force of circum- 
stances; humble yourself a little, and you may 
perhaps still rescue a little something from the 
shipwreck which has swallowed up all. With force 
you can accomplish nothing ; for I see already that 
the miserable man has arranged his scheme too 
adroitly whilst you were vainly afflicting yourself 
over the death of your father, my excellent em- 
ployer. You have heard how that ragamuffin, the 
Notary Seybel, has confirmed every thing by the 
forms of law. The wretched scrub is no doubt 
bribed, but who can prove it? Ah, the cheat 
has done his work with much cunning, and all 
the rights that you have on your side avails you 
nothing against him. Yield, Jonathan 1 Take my 
advice, and yield I” 

“ Never, never 1” answered Jonathan. “ Never 
more will I humble myself before a rogue I I 
would rather beg my way from house to house, to 
seek my bread I On every street I will proclaim 
that this David Mappel is a defrauder ; and if 
the people will not hear me, God himself will 
regard my just complaints !” 

“No, no, no !” exclaimed the good old Yander- 
haan, soothingly. “Not so rash, my dear Jona- 
than I Come, obey me ! True, I am only a poor, 
old secretary, and you have yourself heard that 
Mappel has dismissed me from service, and I know 
not where, or how soon I may find employment 


40 


again ; but so long as I have a crust of bread left. 
I will cheerfully share it with the son of my be- 
loved, now sainted old employer, who was once 
my faithful w^ell-wisher. Cgme, come, my Jona- 
than I Later we will leisurely consider Tvhat 
further steps may be taken to secure your rights 
to you !” 

Jonathan firmly shook his head. “No,” said 
he, “of my own free will I will not leave this house. 
I will see whether he will dare forcibly to drive 
me away. He will not venture it ; you shall see, 
old friend, that he will not undertake !” 

Scarcely had Jonathan uttered these words, 
when a noise was heard before the door, and sud- 
denly Liese Crabetje, the old maid-servant, rushed 
into the chamber, pale and highly excited. 

“ Tell me, dear Sir, what is going on here !” she 
exclaimed. “ Two police officers stand without, 
and Philip Mappel came with them. They ask to 
be shown in to you, Jonathan ! What has come 
to pass ? What do the men want ?” 

“ You will soon hear, good Liese,” answered 
Jonathan, who soon overcame his first confusion, 
while old Mr. Vanderhaan despairingly rung his 
hands. “ Let them come in I It will do no good 
to attempt to resist them I” 

As Liese hesitated to follow his directions, 
Jonathan himself hastily opened the door, and 
with a pale but peaceful face approached the 
police officers. 

“What do you wish of me, gentlemen?” asked 
he. “ Come nearer I And now, without reserve, 
what do you wish ?” 

The policemen shrugged their shoulders, and 
looked with an air of perplexity at young Mappel, 


41 


who, with a riding-whip in his hand, stood to one 
side, smiling scornfully as he played with his 
whip, without paying the least attention to Jona- 
than. 

“Now, why this delay said he, to his attend- 
ants. Attend to the matter entrusted to you 
without further ceremony.” 

“ Well then. Master Monkenwyk,” said one of 
the policemen in a sympathizing tone, “ we are 
very sorry to bring you such a message ; but you 
well know that our duty is to obey, and hence we 
must announce to you, that — that — ” 

“ Hold your tongue. Sir !” interrupted Philip, 
in a brutal way, — “ that the young man must this 
moment leave this house, which belongs to my 
honored uncle ! Why so much ceremony with a 
beggar-boy ? Ho you hear, young lad, you are to 
pack off, and that in a moment I’ 

Old Liese uttered a loud shriek at this an- 
nouncement, which came quite unexpectedly to 
her. Yanderhaan sighed, and sadly shook his 
grey head ; Jonathan alone maintained his calm- 
ness. 

“ Is it true,” he asked the policeman, “have you 
really such an order as this man here declares ?” 

“Yes, young Sir, alas I” answered the policeman 
respectfully, and with evident sympathy, “ Mr. 
David Mappel has shown by documents that he is 
owner of this house, and in accordance with this 
showing we have been ordered — ” 

“To show you the way, young fellow!” again 
interrupted Philip, turning toward Jonathan. 
“ Here is the door — march 1 If you make any 
resistance, these men have orders to use force.” 
“That will not be necessary,” said Jonathan, 
4 * 


42 


with more composure than Philip had perhaps 
expected. “ Yes, yes, I am not at all surprised, 
that nothing good should come to me from you, 
Philip, although during the life-time of my father 
you were always full of fawning and flattery 
toward me.” 

“ No insinuating talk, fellow I” exclaimed Philip, 
angrily, — “or I will use my riding- whip at your 
expense.” 

This rude and arrogant threat drew forth a flash 
of indignation from Jonathan’s eyes, whilst old 
Liese Crabetje shrieked anew, and both the police- 
men cast an indignant look at Philip. 

“ Nothing of this kind, my young Sir 1 “You 
are forgetting yourself 1” said one of them to 
Philip, with a good deal of sharpness. 

“ Let him be ; only let him go on,” interfered 
Jonathan. “I go, and shake the dust from my 
feet. But I have a hope that there will come a 
time, when I shall be able to demand an account 
for all injuries that are now heaped on me, an un- 
protected orphan. Good Liese, farewell 1 Fare- 
well, Yanderhaan I God be with you, as I hope 
He will be with me !” 

“What !” exclaimed Liese Carbetje. “Do you 
think I will remain in this house, Jonathan ? Do 
you think that I will forsake you ? Ah ! from this 
God protect and preserve me 1 Immediately will 
I go along ! Old Liese has saved and laid up a 
few ducats, and when other people act the rogue 
toward my young lord, he shall see that there are 
still some honest and faithful souls in the w'orld. 
Yes, truly I Bemain here under this roof, where 
till now, honest people have always dwelt, and 
where now, God alone knows, who shall bear rule 1 


) 


43 


No, my Jonathan, if you must go, old Liese goes 
too, without asking who shall remain here ! God 
be thanked, no rogues either here or elsewhere, 
can command me.” 

“ And I too will not forsake you, Jonathan — I 
too, will not !” said Yanderhaan, the tears hanging 
in his grey eye-lashes. “If we are poor in money 
and property, we old people are not wanting 
in love to our young lord, and of this we will 
convince you. Only come, Jonathan, in God’s 
name ! I shall yet live to see you return to this 
place in quite another way from that in which you 
are forced to go out ; then the turn of going will 
come to others ; and then it will be seen whether 
true friends will be here to sustain and comfort ! 
Come on, Jonathan !” 

Affectionately he took the young man by one 
arm, while Liese Crabetje took the other, and thus 
they led him away. J onathan made no resistance ; 
for the sincere affection shown him by the faithful 
servants of his father, touched and rejoiced his 
heart. Without casting even a single glance of 
contempt at Philip, he left the house, and outside, 
as he had said to Philip he would, shook the dust 
from his feet, and accompanied Yanderhaan to 
his humble hut, to which very naturally Liese also 
followed him, and to which he was heartily wel- 
comed by the old secretary. Here, however, 
where a noble pride no more enabled him to hold 
up his head, his deep sorrow, which he had hitherto 
repressed, at length found an outlet. He cast 
himself on a chair, buried his pale face in both his 
hands, and wept aloud. Never had he so deeply 
felt himself to be a poor, unprotected orphan, as 
in that moment, when he found himself basely 


44 


driven from his father’s house as a sacrifice to the 
avarice and wickedness of low-minded and miser- 
able men. 

“Weep not, Jonathan,” said Liese ; and Yander- 
haan did all he could to divert his young friend. 
But it was a long time before their combined 
efibrts succeeded in quieting the disturbed feelings 
of Jonathan. The thoughts which controlled him 
were too bitter — his indignation at the shameless 
impudence of the two Mappels had too deeply 
stirred every drop of his blood, to enable him 
so soon to regain his wonted balance of mind. But 
when he discovered how deeply he grieved his ^ 
two old friends by his long continued sorrow, he 
earnestly sought to control himself, and became 
more calm. 

The evening of this eventful and stormy day, 
closed freer of clouds and more serenely than any 
one of them had ventured to hope ; and at bed- 
time there came a very amusing scene, when the 
honest old Yanderhaan confessed, that it was 
time to retire, but that he had not yet as much 
as thought of how matters for sleeping could be 
arranged. Luckily old Liese was an ingenious 
housekeeper, and knew what to counsel. Before a 
half hour had passed another bed was prepared in 
a side chamber of which she took possession. 
Jonathan had to sleep in Yanderhaan’s bed ; and 
the host, himself, had to get along on the sofa as a 
punishment for not having sooner thought of pro- 
viding beds for his guests. 

The several succeeding days passed amid all 
kinds of plans devised by the three friends, by 
which to wrest again from the claws of the vul- 
tures the possessions of which they had robbed 


45 


J onathan. But they soon saw that this was not to 
be done either so easily or as soon, as they had at 
first hoped. Yanderhaan and Jonathan called on 
several of the most eminent lawyers in Amster- 
dam, asking their assistance which was always 
promised them. When, however, they had told 
them the situation of things, each one of the lawyers 
shook his head and started back. Each one agreed 
that it was possible, yea that it seemed highly 
probable, that David Mappel was a rogue and a 
cheat, but also added that he had too carefully 
secured himself to be proceeded against suc- 
cessfully. Through the whole town men were 
indignant at the shameful conduct of Mappel. 
Every one passed him with manifest contempt ; but 
Mappel stood on the documents empowering him 
to act as he did, and laughed in his sleeve amid all 
the rage of his opponents. This much was certain 
— no one could harm him ; “upless,” as an old in- 
genious law3"er at last said, “the Notary Seybel 
could be induced fully to reveal the whole scheme 
of rascality in which he had, no doubt, under cover 
of secrecy, aided Mappel in perfecting and carry- 
ing out.” Of this, it is true, there was as yet 
no prospect ; but still Jonathan treasured up his 
words with a view of perhaps acting on the hint at 
some future time. 

“I strongly suspect,” added the lawyer, “that 
all the papers on which the rascally Mappel stays 
himself, were only prepared after the death of the 
sainted Monkenwyk, and if this could be proven, 
they would have no validity whatever ; would not 
be worth a mushroom, and the Herr Mappel would 
not only be compelled to yield up all, but 
also be permitted to pay a visit of some ten or 


46 


fifteen years to the penitentiary. But Seybel, who 
drew up all these documents will hardly acknow- 
ledge that they are all forged, and that the3’' were 
written after my Lord Monkenwyk’s death ; for 
should he confess it he would share a like fate 
with Mappel. Hence, there is no hope unless 
the unfaithful Notary could be bribed by a large 
sum of money and the promise that he should be 
permitted to go unpunished. This is the only way 
by which the end could perhaps be attained ; but 
certainly without a considerable sum of money 
success could not be expected.” 

This was the last opinion in regard to the 
case which Jonathan received. It contained very 
little of comfort or hope ; for he was not much 
more than a beggar. Yanderhaan possessed not 
even the necessaries of life, and the honest Liese 
had, it is true, her spare penny, which she was 
ready with great pleasure to offer, but the small 
sum was far from sufficient to excite the avarice of 
the N otary and allure him from his devotion to his 
fellow rogues. 

“We will give it up,” said Jonathan, when in 
compan3' with his faithful old friends he had ex- 
amined the matter on all sides. “ There is no 
use in attempting impossibilities, and to effect a 
discovery of the dishonest scheme is impossible. 
Let us rather consider what I am to do to make 
my way through life, and to open a sphere of 
activity, by following which I may honestly earn 
my bread.” 

Yanderhaan and Liese Crabetje w^ould not hear 
of this ; for the^^ said he was yet too 3"Oung to 
support himself, and meanwhile they w'ould both 
provide for, and in general take care of him. But 


47 


to this Jonathan would not consent, saying that 
they needed all they had for the comfort of their 
old age ; and thus they contended with one another 
for some time without coming to any conclusion, 
when suddenly the door was thrown widely open, 
and a large, strong, broad-shouldered young man 
entered with earnest step. 

“Where is he,” he exclaimed with a strong voice, 
which made the windows shake ; “ Where is my 
Jonathan? Oh, there you are ! Jonathan, my dear 
youth. God be praised that I have at last found 
you !” 

“ Peter Hemskerk 1 My Peter I” Jonathan ex- 
claimed aloud, and springing up, threw himself 
into the arms of the large and pleasant youth, 
from whose blue eyes flowed crystal tears, whilst 
he enfolded the pale, feeble lad in his strong 
arms, lifted him up like a child, swung and kissed 
him; — “My good Peter! what brings you here? 
Have you already heard, Peter ?” 

“I know all — of course !” answered Peter, as he 
wrinkled his forehead. “Just on this account I 
came from Rotterdam hither to see after the right, 
and to stand by my dear Jonathan against the 
rascals and rogues, and by my life if I get hold 
of them — these knaves Philip and David Mappel, 
— they shall feel that Peter has a pair of sound 
arms and fists that know how to take hold ! But, 
first of all, tell me particularly, how all things 
transpired, and afterwards when I know all things 
— w'ell, then the rest will come in play.” 

Jonathan began to relate ; Yanderhaan and 
Liese Crabetje helped him, and it was not long till 
Peter was fully informed, not only of what had 
happened, but also of the uncertain plans of Jona- 




48 


than for the future. He shook the hands of the old 
secretary and honest Liese, and said : “You are 
true blood ; this is already seen in the fact that you 
have not forsaken our young master ! But now it 
is enough! You, my friend Yanderhaan, must see 
that you obtain a new post as secretary ; and you, 
worthy Liese Crabetje, can in any case, for some 
time, maintain yourself on what you have saved. 
This is my opinion in regard to you both. But my 
Jonathan shall go with me 1 I am young and can 
labor for him ; you are old and need what you can 
earn. Moreover it is not proper that Jonathan 
remain in Amsterdam, when it must ever be as a 
sword in his heart ; when he must pass the house 
of his sainted father, and think of the rogues who 
have stolen it from him. This is not suitable, I 
say, and hence he must come away, out into the 
world — away with me to Rotterdam ; and that he 
may not there be in want of necessaiy care, and 
that no rough wind may blow in his face — let me 
see to that ! This is all fixed, Jonathan I Before 
I left home to look a little after the right here, I 
spoke to my employer, the good Cornelius Beu- 
kelaer, whose chief warehouse superintendent I 
am, Jonathan, and he told me at once that I 
should bring you with me, if nothing could be 
secured for you from the ruins in Amsterdam ; and 
of course you will now go with me, and the Herr 
Beukelaer will soon make a man of 3^011, Jonathan, 
an excellent well-balanced merchant, for whom the 
people will be compelled to have respect, in the 
Old as well as in the New World — and now enough 
said I You go with me, Jonathan — with your 
Peter ? This is no longer a question. And you 
know very well, Jonathan, that I advise you only 
for your own good ; hence do not hesitate ; and I 


49 


can tell you this much, my dear youth, that the 
Herr Beukelaer is a wonderfully fine man, who 
thinks much of me, and will also of you, when he 
once comes to know you. Now, all fixed, Jona- 
than. You go with your Peter 

Peter spoke out fully and with such decision, 
that there was, in fact, nothing farther to do hut 
for Jonathan to say, yes; and the good Van- 
derhaan with Liese must be satisfied with the 
arrangement. So it was concluded upon ; after 
some discussion for and against, all the propo- 
sals of Peter were accepted, and no later than 
the following morning, Jonathan had to bid adieu 
to his friends, as Peter declared that the Herr 
Beukelaer could no longer dispense with him and 
his services. 

The good Liese wept ! the venerable Yanderhaan 
could scarcely master his feelings so as to say fare- 
well ; but Peter cut short the parley, by taking 
Jonathan under his arm, half carrying, half 
dragging him out of the house, and away they 
went as if the pavements of Amsterdam were 
burning under their feet ! 

When they had gone beyond the gate, and the 
steeples of the city had gradually faded away in 
the background, Peter clapped his companion 
gently on the shoulder, looked tenderly into his 
clouded eyes, and in an earnest and animating tone, 
said : ‘‘ Courage, Jonathan, lift up your head ! 

You shall see that the Herr Beukelaer and I, 
with God’s help, will make a man of you I And 
when you are a man, Jonathan — ^well, then we will 
some day have a few words to say to Messieurs 
David and Philip Mappel I Now, courage, Jona- 
than ! courage brings fortune !” 

5 D 


50 


CHAPTER lY. 

THE neighbor’s CHILDREN AND MR. BEUKELAER. 

Peter had not promised too much to Jonathan. 
Beukelaer received the orphan boy in the most 
friendly manner, gave him a post in his employ, 
home and boarding in his house, and beyond 
this a small salary which was sufficient to enable 
Jonathan to keep himself properly clothed. With 
this he was well content ; and not only from a 
sense of duty, but also from gratitude for the 
kindness of his employer, he used all diligence to 
perform the duties entrusted to him in such a 
way as called forth the praise of his superiors. 
Even during his apprenticeship his wages were 
increased ; and when he had served his time in 
this capacity he was appointed as one of the as- 
sistant book-keepers, and one year later he received 
a salary which enabled him to enjoy all the 
advantages that a young man can desire. 

But Jonathan was far from desiring more enjoy- 
ments. He husbanded his means ; and only at 
Christmas, when the white snow covered the earth, 
and the cold north wind was roaring hoarsely 
around, was he accustomed to open his ])urse more 
than ordinarily wide. There was a reason for this. 
The friendly reader will easil}:^ guess it, if he still 
remembers the good resolutions which Jonathan 
formed once on a Christmas festival in his child- 
hood — but the treasurer of Mr. Beukelaer could 
not comprehend why the otherwise enonomical 
Jonathan always became so extravagant in spend- 
ing money about Christmas time. As Jonathan 


51 


at no time asked to draw more than was at the 
time due justly*to him, the treasurer paid him what 
he asked on these occasions, only thinking within 
himself that Jonathan must at times be overtaken 
by a kind of gentle mania. 

It was, however, no madness, but only Jona- 
than’s own way of celebrating Christmas. The 
first Christmas festival after the death of his father 
at first bid fair to prove to him a very sad one ; 
for as the day approached on which the Christmas- 
tree had always been lighted up for him, the 
thought lay heavil}!^ on his heart that he had now 
no one left who took a kindly interest in him, 
except perhaps his friend Peter, who however 
could not make up for the loss of father and 
mother. 

“ This will prove to be a tearful Christmas-eve 
to me after so many joyful ones which I have 
enjoyed in times past,” he muttered to himself, as 
on a cold Sunday in December he stood at the 
window of his little room, and looked down 
thoughtfully into the yard — for his window over- 
looked the yard — I wish it were already past, or I 
could sleep through the whole festival, so that I 
would neither hear nor see any thing that is going 
on I” 

Thus he stood and inwardly complained, whilst 
he conjured up before his mind the pleasant and 
brilliant images of the beautiful past, and his eye 
grew even cloudier, his countenance darker, till he 
observed at length two small children, of six and 
seven years, in the yard, who ran about laughing 
with joy ; and although they were very barely 
clad in light smock frocks, yet shouted joyfully, 
throwing snow over themselves, and then ran and 


52 


shouted again, as if it were spring time without, 
and they felt nothing of the cold. 

Here, after he had for some time viewed the 
happy little creatures, his sorrowful face suddenly 
brightened up, and a sunny smile played upon his 
lips. 

“ Am I not a fool and an ingrate thus to sigh 
and complain?” he said to himself. “Is it not 
written, ‘It is more blessed to give than to re- 
ceive ?’ And am I not happy enough in being 
able to give, be it ever so little ; and is it not a 
true joy to see around one’s self, glad and happy 
faces who are satisfied with the little that is offered 
them by the hands of love ? Is it not sinful in 
me, that I have not before thought of my vow, and 
that it is only now called to my mind by these 
poor and yet happy children ? But to-morrow I 
will speak with the treasurer and with Peter, and 
then — who knows, whether my Christmas will not 
yet be happier than I had dreamed of!” 

Jonathan spoke with the treasurer, and rejoiced 
like a child when he was told that four whole 
ducats were due him which he might draw any 
moment. Then he spoke with Peter, and asked 
him who the little children were that had yesterday 
played in the yard. Peter told him they were very, 
very poor children from a neighboring house, whose 
father was long since dead, and whose mother, an 
excellent woman, with the greatest difficulty, but 
honestly, sought to support them with the labor of 
her hands. When he heard this, he smiled quietly 
to himself, and inwardly right happy, so that Peter 
was quite surprised, and wondered why Jonathan 
could be made so happy by such information in 
regard to such poor people — till at last Jonathan 


53 


said : “ Now all is well, Peter ! And now come, 

yon must assist me in putting up a Christmas-tree, 
and in buying the things that belong to it, and 
then we will enjoy a calm and serene evening in 
spite of the wicked Mappels, who certainly do not 
think that this Christmas can be a happy Christ- 
mas to me !” 

‘‘Yes, but for whom is the Christmas tree?’’ 
asked Peter, quite surprised. 

“ Do you not guess it, Peter ?” answered Jona- 
than. “Do you think that nothing but curiosity 
induced me to inquire about those poor children ? 
And have you quite forgotten what I promised you 
with a grasp of the hand, namely, that I would not 
let a single Christmas pass without making some 
one happy ? Do you not now see very clearly that 
it is for these poor children here that I intend to 
prepare this pleasure ? If you do you must cer- 
tainly also see that a Christmas festival and no 
Christmas-tree is only half a joy ? Now then, 
Peter, will you assist me or not ?” 

“ Ho ! what questions these are !” exclaimed 
Peter, whose face had gradually brightened up like 
the heavens after a foggy autumn morning. “ Of 
course I will, and with all my heart this is under- 
stood ; and the greatest part of my pleasure is 
that you are ever happy when you can befriend 
others. Yes, yes, I will help you Jonathan, not 
only in putting up the Christmas-tree and in 
making the purchases, but I will also go over to 
the poor woman Lys, and will draw from her what 
it is she most needs ; for this suits me better than 
you, Jonathan, and afterwards we will attend to 
the bu3dng ; and you will discover, that we will get 
the very best things at the ver}^ ch^r>est price ; 

5 * 


54 


and the trouble will not be too great to go from 
one end of the city to the other 1 But have you 
money enough, Jonathan 

“ Four whole ducats, which I do not need, as I 
have already provided my winter clothing,” replied 
Jonathan. 

“ Ha, money enough, and to spare !” exclaimed 
Peter, clapping his hands. ‘‘ But if it should still 
not be enough, I have my saving-box, and thus we 
shall have a Christmas festival over which the 
angels in heaven will rejoice ! Only let me work, 
Jonathan. As early as to-morrow, I will know 
what the Christmas-man must buy, and what 
Knecht Ruprecht must put into his pockets !” 

Certainly no better Knecht Ruprecht than Peter, 
could Jonathan any where find. As soon as he 
had locked up his warehouse, he stole over to 
widow Lys, and so skillfully did he put his ques- 
tions, that in less than an hour he got all the 
information he desired, whilst the poor woman did 
not in the least suspect why Peter asked the ques- 
tions he did. She regarded his inquiries in no 
other light than as a Christian interest and neigh- 
borly sympathy, and did not even dream that he 
had something more in view. After an hour, Peter 
rose and went away. The next morning he and 
Jonathan made their calculations, and it was found 
that the four ducats would not only be sufficient to 
procure what the children needed, but that a con- 
siderable sum would remain to be otherwise appro- 
priated. 

Jonathan now went and drew his four ducats, 
which not a little excited the wonder of the trea- 
surer, and then, whenever there was any leisure 
time — which was every afternoon after five o’clock 


55 


— Peter and Jonathan, in spite of snow, cold and 
slush, tramped all through the city, now gliding 
into this store, now into that, buying, bargaining, 
trading, and carrying home, till they had gathered 
all they needed. Then, on the beloved Christmas- 
eve, they were early in Jonathan’s room and orna- 
mented the Christmas-tree, fastened candles on it, 
hung gilded apples and nuts upon it, and whole 
garlands of raisins and almonds ; and afterwards, 
when the tree was finished, they placed it bn a 
table which was covered with a cloth as glis- 
tening white as ^e snow upon the roofs without ; 
and now they began to unpack, and spread over 
the table, in a neat and orderly manner, what the 
Christmas-man had presented for the children. 
Last of all Jonathan took something from the 
drawer of his trunk, and laid it privately separate 
from the rest ; but still on the table under the 
sugar-tree, which extended its green and heavily 
laden branches over it as if to protect it : “and 
now, Peter,” said he, “now they may come in 
right away, we are done !” 

“Yes, all done, except the lighting of the lights,” 
answered Peter, whilst looking with the greatest 
satisfaction over the whole arrangements. “But 
the joy, Jonathan ! The joy 1 And the surprise ! 
For neither the children nor the mother suspect 
anything !” 

“Yes, Peter, I believe myself that they will 
rejoice,” said Jonathan, as he nodded his head 
with satisfaction. “But what think you, shall we 
not call them in, and light the lights ?” 

“ What a foolish Jonathan 1” exclaimed Peter, 
“ do you not see that it is stQl bright day-light ? 
Rather, we will yet arrange the supper, add the 


56 


herring-salad and tne puddings, put the tea- 
kettle in order ; for you know, Jonathan, joy 
excites hunger and thirst, and the little people will 
eat heartily when they have made themselves 
hungry with delight !” 

“Right, Peter,” answered Jonathan. ‘'I see 
right well that you are still the wisest one of us, 
and always hit the nail on the head. When we 
have put the eatables on the table we will mean- 
while place it in the side chamber, and when an 
appetite begins to show itself we need but bring it 
out.” 

Then they fixed the herring-salad, sliced the 
puddings, cold roast, and ham, piled up delicately 
bread and butter like a pyramid on a plate, filled 
the tea-pot, and placed cups around the table, all 
amid sly laughing, talking, and guessing whether 
this and that would please the children, and 
whether they would be delighted from the bottom 
of their hearts. Meanwhile it had actually become 
dark, and now Jonathan earnestly insisted, that 
Peter should go and bring the poor widow Lys 
and her children, whilst he should give the final 
touches to the tree, and set off the wax lights. 
Peter agreed to it, though he would in fact rather 
have waited a quarter of an hour longer. He 
went, and in five minutes afterwards he knocked 
again at the door, and asked whether all things 
were ready? — “All ready!” echoed Jonathan’s 
voice from within ; and at once the door was filing 
wide open, and so brilliant was the glory that 
poured out from the place, that the children half 
blinded by the glare, broke out with a loud “ Oh !” 
“Oh !” whilst the widow Lys stood dumb with 
wonder and surprise, gazing into the sea of light 


before her. But Peter did not give them much 
time to recover from the first joyful fright. 

“Happy Christmas I Mrs. Lys,” he exclaimed, 
with a clear, loud voice. “ Happy Christmas, 
children ! he shouted, and then he spread his large 
arms and pushed the whole company before him 
into the room like a baker pushes his cakes into 
the oven. 

“ And now, enjoy yourselves, children 1” he ex- 
claimed. “ Cheer up, Mrs. Lys !’’ Master Jona- 
than here, takes a pleasure in playing Christmas- 
man a little, and here lie his gifts, and you must lay 
hold of them now heartily, or he will think that 
you despise him ! But I see you know how to act ; 
and now Jonathan,” he added, very softly, “only 
listen now, to the joy of the little rogues, and 
just look at Mrs. Lys, and if that is not enough 
for you, I will have to regard you as the most dis- 
satisfied man in the whole world !” 

But Jonathan was satisfied, and not only satis- 
fied, but absolutely happy, and more than happy 
in his heart of hearts, as he listened to the shouts 
of the little ones, who were rejoicing over their 
beautiful new clothes, and hats, and boots, and 
playthings ; and saw the unspeakable bliss that 
streamed forth from the eyes of the mother, and 
the tears of joy that rolled over her pallid 
cheeks !” 

“ Peter,” said Jonathan, softly, into the ear of 
his friend, “ Peter, it is true : ‘ It is more blessed 
to give tlian to receive happ}^ as I am now this 
moment, I did not even then feel when that mill 
— do you yet remember it, Peter ? — when that 
wonderful and bea itifiil mill was presented to me 
on Christmas.” 


58 


“Yes, yes ; I can well think this, Jonathan ; for 
I felt as if I must shout aloud, and jump, and 
dance,” answered Peter, laughing all over his 
face. “But see! how xMrs. L3^s is rejoicing over 
that warm woolen dress which we bought for her. 
Yes, I am sure she will be able to make use of it 
in the cold da^^s of winter, and .” 

But Peter could not finish the sentence, for Mrs. 
Lys, deeply moved,' came up to them to express 
her warm thanks ; and the children came, and 
Jonathan had his hands full, to ward off the many 
thanks they were bringing him, while he felt as if 
he ought to thank them for all the joy filling his 
heart, — till at last Peter, who noticed Jonathan’s 
confusion, came in between, took the children, 
without ceremony, by the hand, and exclaimed : 
“ Let me now see whether the coats, and trousers, 
and shoes fit well !” 

This, as we may well suppose, suited the chil- 
dren exactly, and the mother had nothing to say 
against it, but rather herself took hold, and in five 
minutes the ^’’oungsters stood before them dressed 
neat and tid}^, so that it was a real pleasure to 
behold them. Proper admiration was expressed 
at their fine appearance, and then Mrs. Lys was 
making motions to take the clothes off again ; but 
Jonathan would not suffer it, and Peter sustained 
him in it, so that the mother had to yield, resist- 
ing, a little but 5^et not reluctant, for she was over- 
joyed at seeing the pleasant faces of the children 
in their new clothes with cheeks as red as Borsdorf 
apples. 

When all this was over, and the lights on the 
Christmas-tree had to be put out, because they 
were already beginning here and there to kindle 


59 


the pitchy twigs of the pine, of which the Christ- 
mas-tree was made, Peter suggested that the}^ now 
arrange them around the table, to which Jonathan 
was fully agreed. Then they brought the richly 
covered table from the little room ; and the shouts 
of the children broke out afresh when they heard 
that their little inner man also was not to be sent 
away empty. All sat around the table. Mrs. Lyg 
had to prepare the tea ; Peter, meanwhile, filled 
the plates of the laughing children with heaps of 
herring-salad, bread and butter, and all kinds of 
meat ; and now all feasted heartily, and it could 
well be seen how w^onderfully were all things tested. 
Till toward ten o’clock in the evening, they feasted 
and talked, and not until the children’s eyes closed 
of pure weariness, did Jonathan and Peter consent 
that they should be taken home and put to bed. 
Each picked up one of the little ones and 
carried him away, while the mother was loaded 
with presents ; and so ended, at length, this 
Christmas-eve, which Jonathan and Peter in after 
years ever regarded as one of the pleasantest of 
their lives. 

Besides, Jonathan had learned by experience 
that it is more blessed to give than to receive. On 
every subsequent Christmas season he repeated 
such gift-giving in his room, and Peter faithfully 
aided him in it. The only difference between these 
and former times was that every time Peter was 
required to invite more children, according as 
Jonathan’s income increased. Jonathan found his 
greatest pleasure in seeing happy children’s faces 
around him, and thus to transfer himself back in 
thought to his own childhood, when he was just as 
innocent, just as joyful, and happy, as these little 


60 


ones who now hopped around him, and gratefully 
received his gifts. 

Six times had Jonathan in this way celebrated 
the Christmas festival ; and just then, for the 
seventh time, were the children dancing around the 
three-cornered table with the illuminated Christ- 
mas-tree, when quite suddenly and unexpectedly 
the door opened, and Jonathan’s principal, Mr. 
Cornelius Beukelaer, highly astonished, entered the 
room. 

“ Do I dream, or am I awake ?” said he, rubbing 
his forehead, overhung with grey locks. What 
is going on here ? In my own house, without me 
knowing anything of it! Heh ! Master Jonathan 
Monkenvvyk, what does all this signify?” 

Jonathan looked a little perplexed, for he did 
not wish to boast of his good deeds, but followed 
rather the rule that the left hand must not know 
what the right hand does — but Peter spoke out 
at once, and said : “ You see, good Mr. Beukelaer, 
Jonathan is making a little pleasure for himself, 
and is celebrating the dear Christmas I This he 
has done every 3^ear since he has been here I” 

“ Impossible ! I was not aware of any thing 
of the kind 1” replied the principal. 

“ To be sure you were not, for Jonathan is such 
a modest fellow, and was anxious that no one 
should know of it ! I am surprised, dear Sir, 
that you have just come in upon us !” 

“ Ilem 1 hem I quite right !” answered Mr. Beu- 
kelaer. “ I was taking a little exercise in the 
open air in the 3^ard, saw suddenly the illuminated 
windows here, and 1113’' curiosity was awakened to 
know what might be the occasion. Thus I came 
in and well 3^es, something of this kind I 


61 


had not expected, it is true, master Jonathan Mon- 
ken wyk. Hem I hem ! still I will not disturb you, 
will speak some other time of your little Christmas 
pleasures. Must cost you a good deal of money, 
Jonathan ? Is it not so 

“ Not more, kind Sir, than I had saved during 
the year,’’ answered Jonathan. “ Only ask the 
treasurer. 

“ I believe it, I believe it, without asking,” said 
Mr. Beukelaer. “You are a very orderly young 
man, also handy and useful ; I know this, even 
though I did not say so to you. I am satisfied 
with 3'^ou ; and do you hear, come to my room 
to-morrow morning early, at nine o’clock ; I wish 
to speak with you. Good night !” 

As soon as he had uttered these words, Mr. 
Beukelaer turned so hastily away, that Peter, who 
quickly seized a candle, could hardly light him 
down the steps. 

“Excellent young man! Noble young man!” 
Peter heard Mr. Beukelaer murmur to himself, 
and as this seemed to him no ill omen, he returned 
to Jonathan in good spirits, who appeared to him 
to look somewhat sober and thoughtful. 

“What is up ?” asked he. “The visit of the 
Herr has not, I hope, spoiled your Christmas 
spirits, Jonathan ?” 

“ O no, nothing of that kind, for we are not 
engaged in anything wicked, here,” replied Jona- 
than. “ I was onl}^ trying to think what it might 
be that the Herr Beukelaer wishes to say to me 
As long as I have been here he has never before 
ordered me to his room.” 

“ This does not at all seem strange to me,” said 
Peter. “It has never been known that he asso- 
6 


62 


ciates with his men outside of the hours of busi- 
ness, not even with his chief bookkeeper. It is, 
therefore, without doubt, something particular that 
he wants with you, Jonathan ; but this I confidently 
say that it is nothing bad, and nothing disadvant- 
ageous to you. Think no more of it, Jonathan I 
To-day is Christmas, and to-morrow — is to-mor- 
row !” 

Jonathan took this advice, and mingled with the 
children, and in the midst of their rejoicing and 
friendly kisses he soon forgot every thing else. 
This Christmas passed as happily and as rich with 
enjoyment as the rest had done before, and only 
when the children had all been withdrawn, and all 
became quiet again in Jonathan’s chamber, did he 
think again of Mr. Beukelaer, and murmured 
thoughtfully : “ What can he want ?” 

“Nothing bad, Jonathan,” said Peter, who had 
heard his softly spoken words. “ I heard a little 
bird whistle, and can assure you that there is 
nothing of a threatening nature in the business. 
The bird whistled : ‘Excellent young man 1 Noble 
young man !’ and hence lie down in peace and sleep 
without anxiety. Good night.” 

Jonathan also thought this would be best, and 
fell asleep. The next morning early at nine 
o’clock, he knocked at the room door of Mr. Beu- 
kelaer, and as he entered the chamber, Peter met 
him, laughing all over his face. “ All well !” said 
Peter, and Jonathan bowed before the principal, 
who received him very kindly, and even greeted 
him with a shake of the hand, which was a very 
unusual thing for Mr. Beukelaer to do. 

“ Be seated, my young friend,” said he. “ And 
Qow, as I very well see that you are anxious to 


63 


know why I requested you to come to my room, 
we will proceed to the matter without delay. I 
have a friend, a dear and precious friend at 
Paramaribo, in Surinam. He has applied to me in 
very urgent circumstances for my counsel and 
assistance. Were I not too old, I would have 
gone to him myself; but I begin to be feeble, and 
•would hardly endure the weariness of a sea voy- 
age ; and if on the way anything should befal me, 
I would, with the best intentions, only make the 
condition of my friend worse instead of better. 
Hence I have thought best to send another to him 
in my place. But where should I find this substi- 
tute ? Where should I find one who unites in 
himself business talent with the power of silence, 
and a kindly disposition ? — traits that are indispen- 
sable in this business. I looked around — I found 
one. It was an inward anxiety I had for my 
friend, that yesterday drove me about restless and 
caused me thus to see your brilliantly illumined 
windows. I came up to your room, and — what 
I saw determined my course. My dear young 
friend will you undertake my message to Para- 
maribo ?” 

“ Yes, my lord, I will do it with pleasure,” 
answered Jonathan at once. “And I will do my 
best to justify your confidence, although I do not 
know in what way I should have deserved it !” 

“Enough of that,” replied Mr. Beukelaer. “I 
have already spoken with my chief book-keeper 
and the superintendent — Peter, you know, met 
you — and all this has satisfied me. I give you 
my full confidence, and will provide you with the 
most unlimited authority. If half my fortune is 
necessary to deliver my friend from the difficulties 


64 


into which he has fallen without fault of his own, 
act without hesitation. And now, do you hear 

More than an hour did Mr. Beukelaer speak with 
J onathan, gaye him the most particular information 
and rules for emergencies, and inducted him fully 
into a matter, which, to judge from the earnest 
countenance of Jonathan, was surrounded with 
weighty difficulties. Still, when Jonathan knew all, 
he did not hesitate one moment, to repeat his wil- 
lingness to undertake the difficult, if not perilous, 
business, and to place himself entirely at the dis- 
posal of his principal. 

“ Only this and nothing more do I expect of 
you,” said Mr. Beukelaer. “ And if I am not 
wholly deceived in you, all things will come out 
successfully. How much time do you think you 
will need to prepare for your departure ?” 

“Not more than is required to prepare my 
commission papers. As to myself, I am ready at 
any moment.” 

“Yery good 1” said Mr. Beukelaer, quite well 
satisfied. “ The commission papers are already 
made out, and there is a ship ready to sail lying 
in the harbor.” 

“ To-day I will go on board,” replied Jona- 
than. “ Yet, one thing more, Mr. Beukelaer. It 
might come to pass that when I get there, I might 
need the assistance of some decided and earnest 
man ; would you permit me to take such an one 
with me ?” 

“ Do you know anyone in whom you could place 
implicit confidence ?” 

“Yes, my lord. Peter Hemskerk is my friend, 
and I have full confidence in him.” 

“ Peter ? Yes ! He is a decided man. You can 


05 


take him with you ; I approve of it fully^ and 
really believe that you will need such a man for the 
success of the work.” 

“ I will guarantee success,” said Jonathan, “if I 
have Peter to aid me.” 

“ Very well, that is fixed,” said Mr. Beukelaer, 
“ Here are your papers ! Iniorm your companion I 
And now, God protect you, my young friend. 
Safe voyage ; and may you bring my friend in 
Surinam the desired help and deliverance !” 

On the same day Jonathan and Peter left the 
city, and went on board the ship, which had waited 
only for their arrival to weigh anchor. A fresh 
north-east wind filled the sails, and hopefull}^ did 
Jonathan look into the future, dark and vague as 
it lay before him. But he trusted in God, in 
himself, and his friend Peter, who honestly and 
manfully stood by his side. 


CHAPTER Y. 

PANTHERS. 

After a favorable voyage Jonathan and Peter 
arrived safely at Paramaribo. They found the 
business there to be attended to, exactly in the 
state in which Mr. Beukelaer had represented it. 
The most exact knowledge of business transactions, 
the utmost secresy, and a kindly disposition, were 
necessary for its proper adjustment. Fortunately 
Jonathan possessed talents which answered fully 
to this demand, and they managed the afiair in 
such a manner as called forth the most sincere 
thanks of the commercial friend of Mr. Beukelaer. 

6* E 


66 


The business was of too complicated a character 
to be here circumstantially detailed. It is sufficient 
to say that Jonathan was held in the highest esteem 
in the house of Mr. Seyders, and a thousand evi- 
dences of gratitude were lavished upon him, when 
after ten months of the most wearisome labor, he 
had at length concluded the whole matter without 
any loss or disadvantage to Mr. Beukelaer or his 
friend. Mr. Seyders was not willing, at the end of 
that period, to permit him to return to Europe ; 
but insisted that Jonathan and Peter should 
remain with him some time longer, till they had 
refreshed themselves, and seen the most interesting 
localities in Surinam more leisurely than had been 
hitherto possible. 

“ What say you, Peter asked J onathan one 
evening of his friend, after Mr. Seyders had again 
repeated his urgent request. 

“I think Mr. Seyders is right,” answered Peter. 
“You have labored beyond your strength, Jona- 
than, and hence you can allow yourself some time 
for recreation.” 

“ Still, what will the Herr Beukelaer say, if we 
make him wait for our return, Peter ? ” 

“ Should we now at once set sail for home, he 
would say : ‘You are fools that you didn’t remain 
longer.’ No one goes a journey half round the 
globe, without learning to know something of the 
other side ! ” 

“ I really believe myself, that the Herr Boukelaer 
would say so, ’’answered .Jonathan laughing. “ Well, 
then let us tarry a little Avhile.” 

Thus the}^ concluded to delay their return for 
some time ; and intelligence wEich they received 
from Europe, afterwards induced them to delay 


6t 

even still a little while longer. Mr. Beukelaer 
insisted that Jonathan should by no means hasten 
his return, whilst he bestowed upon him the 
warmest praise for having so well attended to the 
business committed to his hands. Peter prided 
himself a little for having so# correctly judged 
Mr. Beukelaer, and Jonathan remained till, unper- 
ceived, the old Christmas day returned. He him- 
self would scarcely have thought of it, for the 
month of December wears quite a different face in 
Surinam from what it does in Holland or in our 
own country, and neither snow squalls, nor cold 
northeast winds, nor yet mirror-like frozen streams 
and lakes, aided his memory the least. But Mr. 
Seyders reminded him of it. 

“ Not so, my dear friend,” said he one morning 
to Jonathan, ‘'it still seems a little strange to’ you 
that even to-day everything is yet so beautifully 
green around you. Nothing like this have you 
ever seen in Europe. Have you ? ” 

“ Why should this strike me particularly to- 
day ?” asked Jonathan. 

“Why ? Because this is Christmas-eve, my dear 
friend ! See ! this you had quite forgotten ! ” 
Jonathan started. “ Yes, verily,” he exclaimed, 
“ I thank you kindly, Mr. Seyders, that you have 
reminded me of it ! Is Christmas not observed 
here ? I do not see the least preparation for it, — 
no Christmas-market ! nothing, nothing that can 
awaken old memories ! ” 

“No, my dear friend ; for anything of the kind 
you will here look in vain,” answ^ered Mr. Seyders. 
“To-morrow, it is true, is a holiday; the ring- 
ing of the bells will remind you of a high festival, 
but Christmas gift-givings there are none with us. 


68 


except perhaps among a few emigrant families, 
who keep up the good old custom also here in 
our tropical climate.” 

Jonathan lost himself in silent meditation. Sud- 
denly he started up, went out to seek for Peter, 
whom he found in the beautiful garden of Mr. 
Seyders. 

“Peter!” he called. 

“ What now ? ” said Peter. 

“Do you not know what day this is ? ” 

“A heaiitiful day, Jonathan! Pleasant and 
warm, and the heavens as blue as a ripe plum.” 

“ And what more, Peter ? ” 

“ What more ! I do not know I ” 

“ Ah, Peter, you also do not know I Christmas ! 
it is Christmas 1 ” 

Peter looked around puzzled. “ Hallo I yes ; is 
it possible ! ” he exclaimed. “ But in such a gar- 
den where everything is green and blooming — in 
the midst of palm trees, bananas and pine apples — 
who would think of Christmas, of our Christmas, 
where one is accustomed to see nothing but ice and 
snow. I am not at all surprised that I forgot it ; 
and do not deny it, Jonathan, you were also told 
of it by some one else 1 ” 

“ I do not deny it, Peter ! Mr. Seyders told me. 
But what now, Peter ? ” 

“Yes, what now ! What more do you want, 
J onathan ? ” 

“ Have you forgotten my vow, Peter ? ” 

“ Ho, no ! I think of it, certainly I But what 
good does that do, here in this country ? there 
is not even a spruce tree to be found, so that one 
might dress it. Here no Christmas can be cele- 
brated, Jonathan !” 


“ But something good can still be done, Peter I 
and my mind is already made up 

“ To what V’ 

“ To get the loan of a horse of Mr. Seyders, put 
money into my pocket, and take a long ride through 
the surrounding country. Poor and unfortunate 
mortals are everywhere to be found ; it is only to 
seek them out.” 

“Hum ! Then I must also have a horse saddled 
for me,” said Peter. 

“ Well, yes ; this was in fact the motive I had in 
seeking for you. Then you will accompany me ?” 

“To the end of the world, Jonathan, of course I” 

“ Yery well, then, Peter I forward ! we can never ' 
do good quickly enough !” 

Jonathan asked Mr. Seyders for horses, which 
were soon ready, and put money, of which there 
was no scarcity, into his pocket. 

“ But whither are you going,” asked Mr. Seyders. 

“ Anywhere through the neighborhood, ’’answered 
Jonathan. 

“ Then, you will at least take arms with you,” 
said Mr. Seyders. “ In our forests you not un- 
frequently meet with panthers, and the strolling 
Indians are not always to be trusted.” 

“ The Herr Seyders is right,” said Peter, as 
Jonathan was hesitating to answer. “A gun on 
the shoulder, and a cutlass at our side is no encum- 
brance, and in all cases it is better to be prepared. 

I have already heard of these beasts, the panthers, 
which are said not to make much ceremony with a 
man ; and although I do not exactly feel afraid, yet 
I see no harm in being a little provided against 
emergencies. At any rate, if no panthers should 
show themselves, we may shoot a few birds for our 


VO 


fiinner, and then, too, we will have a little hunting 
pleasure extra. Just hand over the guns, Sir, 
‘if you please, and two cutlasses or something of 
the kind.” 

Jonathan consented to receive the weapons, al- 
though he regarded the precautions of Peter as 
wholly unnecessary ; and in good spirits both rode 
away on their brisk horses 

Now between fruitful plantations, now through 
uncultivated regions, which still presented all the 
primeval charms of a tropical wilderness, they 
trotted forward at random, as Jonathan had said. 
At none of the large plantations did they stop, but 
frequently at solitary, lowly and poor huts that lay 
scattered through the silent forests. Here they gen- 
erally dismounted, went into the poor habitations, 
to make the acquaintance of the inhabitants, and 
in most cases when they came out again, wives and 
children followed them with brightened faces and 
blessed them, looking after them a long while, till 
horses and riders vanished in the shades of the 
forest ; and when they could be seen no more, many 
a lip whispered : “ Is it not to-day as if angels 
had turned in with us, to rejoice and bless us !” 

Even though Jonathan and Peter did not hear 
these words, both were nevertheless happy and in 
good spirits, and did not cease to seek other huts, 
dismount, enter, and change sorrowful counte- 
nances into smiles of joy, till at length Peter, as the 
sun was near setting, expressed the opinion that 
they ought to think of returning to Paramaribo, 
unless J onathan should have a desire to spend the 
night in the forest. 

“ That would not trouble me,” answered Jona- 
than ; “ but one thing is true, our riding about can 


n 


now do little good, for I must confess to you, Peter, 
that I have only one solitary gold-piece left in my 
pocket !” 

‘‘ All the better,” replied Peter, “then you need 
not feel the lashes of a reproving conscience. 
Shall we turn toward home ?” 

“Not so hasty, Peter ! How far do you suppose 
we are from Paramaribo ?” 

Peter cast a glance around, looked for some 
point of recognition which might indicate to him 
his present position, but could see nothing and 
shook his head thoughtfully. 

“Jonathan,” said he, “amid all our well-doing, 
we have entirely forgotten to take notice of the 
zigzag direction we took. I believe we rode to- 
w'ard all points of the compass, and we may as 
easily be three miles as fifteen or eighteen from 
Paramaribo.” 

“ So you do not even know the direction which 
we must take, in order to reach town by the nearest 
way ?” 

“ As little as you do, Jonathan ! I confess that 
it just appears to me, as if we were in a very sin- 
gular fix !” 

“ Our dilemma is not a difficult one, Peter ! To 
spend one night under the open heavens in this 
climate I do not regard as a great evil !” 

“But what is to be done here, Jonathan 1 You 
seem entirely to forget the panthers I and we are 
here in a very fine wilderness, where a whole dozen 
of wild cats may be secreted 1” 

“ Bight, Peter ! But do not fear,” answered 
Jonathan, smiling carelessly. “ I do not believe 
that the Herr Beukelaer has sent us over to Surinam 
to be torn and eaten by panthers. And now, listen 


12 


Peter ! we will give our horses the spurs, and ride 
fast forward for one hour. Perhaps we shall hit 
the right way, perhaps we may come to some hut 
or meet some person who may get us on the right 
course ; in that case we shall return to Paramaribo, 
provided, that we have not wandered entirely too 
far away from it. But should we not get out of 
this wilderness, Peter, then we will shoot for our- 
selves a dozen parrots, pluck them, make a fire, fry 
and eat them, and for a change spend the night in 
the primitive forest. The fire will keep the panthers 
away ; and if it comes to the worst, we will put 
bullets into our gun barrels and shoot them down, 
if they become too bold. Now, Peter, what think 
you of that 

“ I think no other way of escape will be left us, 
and that therefore we will have to resort to your 
wisdom,” answered Peter. “ More than this, you. 
will now agree that it was by no means superfiuous 
that we took the guns with us. No guns, no 
birds !” 

“ And no defence against panthers,” added Jona- 
than. “ I acknowledge that you were a wise man 
this morning ! But what now ? Forward I is it 
not so ?” 

“ Forward !” said Peter, and put his spurs to his 
horse. 

Full one hour both rode in a lively trot through 
the lonely wood ; but their hope of meeting some 
human beings was not fulfilled. But rather it 
seemed as if they were getting farther and farther 
from all human habitations. Jonathan suddenly 
held in his horse. 

“ Stop, Peter I” said he, “ we only tire our 
animals without being profited by it in the least. 


73 


Circumstances indicate that we are to remain in 
the wilderness, and so we will remain.” 

“ We will remain !” repeated Peter. “ Here is as 
good a place as any ; and in a quarter of a hour the 
sun will have set. If we wish yet to shoot parrots 
and prepare for ourselves a supper, we must be about 
it. Then get quickly down from your horse !” 

They dismounted and tied their tired horses to 
a tree, giving them rope enough, so that they might 
eat the grass in a considerable circle round the 
tree, and then- prepared their guns for shooting. 
Twelve to fifteen times, in the next five minutes, 
the crack of their guns shook the air and awakened 
the echo of the woods ; then both returned from 
their short excursions, and showed each other their 
sp)oils. Jonathan had shot five, Peter eight birds. 

‘‘Thirteen in all I An unfortunate number 1” said 
Jonathan. “Whoever is superstitious might be- 
lieve that there has been a shot too little or one too 
much.” 

“Superstitious or not,” replied Peter, “in any 
way, we will ^eep ourselves in readiness, so that 
we can shoot if it should be necessary.” 

They loaded their guns anew, and then J onathan 
went to work to pick the feathers from the parrots, 
while Peter made use of the last light of the dusky 
evening in gathering an armful of dry wood, 
placing it on a pile and kindling a fire. Soon a 
bright flame arose, aiid as there was plenty of wood 
at hand, in ten minutes the fire burned like a 
funeral pile. The birds which had meanwhile been 
cleaned, were spitted upon a ramrod, and put over 
the fire by two hastily prepared forks of w^ood, and 
wxre soon roasting so nicely, that our lost friends 
could promise themselves an excellent supper. 

7 


74 


While they were mutually relieving each other 
in turning the spit, the night came fully upon 
them ; but the full moon at the same time rose 
beautifully, and poured its bright silver light over 
the forest. The air was so pure and clear, that 
the smallest objects could be distinctly seen for 
twenty or thirty paces around. 

“ See there, the moon,” said Peter, when a little 
leisure allowed him to look away from the fire. 
“ It shines so brightly that, if we choose to do so, 
we can go on our uncertain way.” 

“No, no,” answered Jonathan, “I am satisfied 
here, — am tired, and prefer staying where we are. 
Night is no friend to man ; and only listen I our 
sport about the panthers bids fair to become an 
earnest matter, for I hear some noise in the 
woods.” 

And truly, forest life began to be astir, and deep 
ominous sounds came from a distance, which bore 
unmistakable signs of wild beasts not far away. 

“ It may be merely bull-frogs that make this 
strange noise,” mused Peter, who now, that the 
danger seemed near him, seemed to become calmer 
and more deliberate than when it was yet farther 
off, “ But if they are panthers or other wild ani- 
mals, we have here our guns. Only let them come, 
Jonathan ! If they are determined to make our 
further acquaintance they may receive a couple of 
shots of lead into their heads. But — hark ! what 
was that ? ” 

Jonathan must also have heard some unaccus- 
tomed sound, for in a moment he had sprung to 
his feet, and seized his gun. Peter, who was just 
turning the spit, cast it with the half-roasted par- 
rots to one side, and followed Jonathan’s example. 


75 


They listened I 

On the first yell, which greeted their ears in 
fearful proximity, followed a cry of anguish from 
several human throats, then the report of a gun, 
and at last a wild, almost supernatural shriek, 
which sounded fearfully on the air. 

“ There is danger,’^ exclaimed Jonathan, — and 
without looking whether Peter was following him, 
he dashed into the thicket ; and in less than a 
minute reached a small, open, moonlit green sward, 
where a strange and terrible spectacle presented 
itself to his view. 

A horse, striking fearfully around with its hoofs, 
lay on the ground, and under it its rider, an aged 
man with grey hair, which seemed to stand like 
bristles on his head. On the hips of the horse sat 
a panther, w^ho had struck his claws deep into the 
jerking muscles of the poor animal, and was tear- 
ing the fiesh from the upper part of his leg with 
his teeth. A second panther had siezed the moan- 
ing animal by the throat and was holding it down, 
whilst it vainly struggled to free itself from the 
blood-thirsty beasts. The rider was apparently 
unhurt, only he was not able to work himself out 
from under the horse, which lay with its whole 
weight on the lower part of his body. That he 
had thus far escaped the teeth and claws of the 
panthers, was plainly owing to the fact that they 
had as yet too much to do with the struggling and 
pawing animal, which they were scarcely able to 
keep on the ground. Only a few more minutes 
and there would have been an end of both horse 
and rider. 

Only a second stood Jonathan as if powerless 
before the dreadful sight, which bewildered his 


76 


eyes and caused the blood to stand still in his 
veins. Then he suddenly collected himself, sprang 
ten steps forward, near to the panther who was 
tearing the flesh from the leg of the horse with his 
claws, and without taking notice of any thing else 
around him, placed the muzzle of his gun to his 
ear, and pulled the trigger. The panther tumbled 
over as if struck by lightning ; but at the explo- 
sion of the gun the other wild beast raised himself 
up, sent forth a fearful howl, opened his blood- 
red yawning jaws, showing his grinning teeth in 
the moonlight, and made a spring upon the dis- 
turber of his bloody meal. Jonathan threw him- 
self backwards ; but his attempt to save himself 
would hardly have succeeded, had not, at the same 
moment, the report of Peter’s gun been heard. In 
the ver}^ act of bounding on his prey the panther 
fell, and his blood poured forth from his wound. 
The ball from Peter’s gun had broken his back 
bone, and thus deprived him of the power of 
making a spring. He raised himself, however, 
with his fore feet, and turned his broad spotted 
head, with a fearful howl, towards his courageous 
assailants who had entered so abruptly into his 
play. 

“We must make an end of him ! ” exclaimed 
Peter to his friend. “ If the beast should get his 
eye on the poor rider, who lies helplessly on the 
ground not a step from him, he will crush his head 
with one snap of his terrible mouth I ” 

Jonathan had already observed the danger in 
which the venerable man lay. He drew his cutlas, 
made at the panther fearlessly, and thrust the 
strong blade into his throat. It was a successful 
stroke. Before Peter, who stood full twenty steps 



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11 


away, could come to his assistance, the panther’s 
angry bellowing had been changed into a low 
gurgling noise ; he tumbled over, and with the 
blood streaming from his mouth his life ebbed fast 
away. 

“Jonathan, this was help at the right time!” 
exclaimed Peter, as he gave the fallen panther 
another stab in the throat with his cutlas — “ five 
seconds more, and there would have been an end, 
not only of the poor horse, but also of the, old man.” 

“ Por God’s sake,” said the old man, with weak 
voice, “ release me first of all from my painful 
position under the weight of the horse.” 

“ It shall be done, aged friend,” said Peter, 
while Jonathan had alread 3 " laid his hand to the 
work. “ So ! And so 1 And so ! So now — how 
do you feel I ” 

The old man returned no answer. The fright 
which he had endured in the midst of his fearful 
danger, together with the pain he had suffered, had 
robbed him of his senses. Jonathan kneeled down 
by his side, laid the head of the venerable man on 
his lap, and poured a few drops of wine into his 
mouth. This means of strengthening him had a 
speedy effect ; after a few minutes he opened his 
eyes, and gently pressed Jonathan’s hand. 

“ Thanks 1 thanks 1 my young friend,” said he. 
“You have delivered me from a terrible fate. To 
be torn to pieces by a panther — great God I ” 

“ Now, old friend, you need not shudder any 
longer,” said Peter. “All danger, God be praised, 
is now over I Here lie the beasts, and not a 
muscle in them moves any more. At the same 
time, I feel a little unpleasant here ; we ought to 
return to our fire. What think you, Jonathan ? ” 
7 * 


78 


“ Certainly, that will be best,” answered Jona- 
than. “ Do you think, old friend, you can walk a 
hundred paces ? If not, we will carry you on our 
arms.” 

“It is not necessary ; I already feel much 
better ; and besides, my negroes, who started back 
the moment the panthers assailed me, cannot be 
faraway. Jupiter!” he called. “Jupiter! Yul- 
can ! cowardly rascals that you are, where do you 
tarry ? ” 

There was a noise in the bushes near by, and 
two negroes on fine horses and armed with weap- 
ons, came hesitatingly out into the little green spot. 

“Mercy, Massa!” said the one, trembling. 
“ Panther-beast so wild, Jupiter think he tear all 
to pieces ! ” 

“All right, all right,” replied the old man. “I 
know you well, and know that you will not stand 
ground before a panther. Had not these active 
young men come to my aid I would have been 
lost ! ” 

“Oh, Massa,” cried both negroes — “we in all 
life-time not get com for den ; we loss so good 
Massa. But panther so wild, so big eyes, so wide 
mouf ! Fearful, Massa ! Had to run, eben wen 
not want to.” 

“Very well, then I will forgive you,” answered 
the old man. “ But now, down from your horses ! 
Take me up and follow these young men. The 
fire which I saw shining through the bushes can- 
not be far olf ? ” 

“ Only a hundred paces,” answered Jonathan. 
“And it burns brightly enough to secure us 
against a second attack ! ” 

The negroes dismounted, took up their master 


79 


carefully and carried him after Jonathan, while 
Peter followed with the horses. In a few minutes 
they reached the place of encampment, and when 
the old man had been laid softly on the grass, and 
the horses were tied, Peter took up the spit from 
the ground where he had cast it, and coolly re- 
sumed the work of turning it over the fire. Mean- 
while Jonathan, according to the best of his ability, 
provided comforts for the old man, whojiad very 
speedily recovered from his fright and injuries, 
which, as it now appeared, did not extend beyond 
several bruises. 

“Jupiter, Yulcan,” said he — “haste! kindle a 
few more fires in the neighborhood, and bring the 
horses also into a safe place. We cannot know 
what may come,” added he, turning towards Jona- 
than. “The howl of the djnng panthers might 
gather in others, and I feel not the least desire, 
after the first experiment, to risk another encoun- 
ter with the ferocious beasts.” 

“No doubt of that,” answered Jonathan. “But 
how came you to fall in with them ?” 

“ Easily enough,” answered the old man. “ This 
morning early I rode out to oversee one of my 
plantations, and was just on my return when I 
heard discharges of guns, no doubt while you were 
shooting these birds. Curiosity drew me a little 
out of my way, and soon I saw your fire through 
the darkness. No doubt the reports and the fire 
attracted the panthers ; for suddenly, as I was 
riding along, both of them assailed me at once 
behind and before, pulled dowm my poor horse, 
which caused me to fall under it. I discharged 
my gun at them but missed, and my negroes, in- 
stead of assisting me, with cries of fear, fled. 


80 


This is the whole story. Had you not come to my 
rescue, I would now be a corpse, and would have 
found a hateful grave in the bodies of these pan- 
thers ! These rogues of negroes never stand 
ground before a panther — and here were two ! I 
cannot even be angry with them ; and to you I owe 
the deepest gratitude. And now, 3 ^our names, my 
young friends ? I must know who has placed me 
under such great obligation.” 

My name is Jonathan Monkenwj'-k, and this is 
my true and trusty friend, Peter Hemskerk.” 

“ Monkenwyk ? Monkenwyk ? Is it possible ?” 
answered the old man, raising himself up, consid- 
erably animated, Monkenwyk from Amsterdam ?” 

“ Yes, from Amsterdam,” replied Jonathan. 
“ Is my name familiar to you ?” 

“ The name certainly, and perhaps even the per- 
son also, at least your father ! what was he ?” 

“ Merchant,” said Jonathan. “ There was only 
one of his name in Amsterdam.” 

“ Surely ! yes ; then it is he, the friend of my 
youth! Do you not know Knievel ? Knievel? 
You must have heard this name !” 

“ 0 certainly, I remember,” said Jonathan earn- 
estly. “ My good sainted father often spoke of 
him as the best beloved friend of his youth ; but, 
if I mistake not, he told me he lived in Brazil ?” 

“ Quite correct, quite right ; there I had also 
several plantations ; but I did not like that country 
as a permanent place of residence, and I removed 
to Surinam. This, of course, my good friend Mon- 
kenwyk could not have known. But he is dead, 
you say ? Dead ? And you are here ? What 
brings you to Surinam, and into this wilderness ? 
Your father was rich, very rich !” 


81 


“ He was rich, but died and left nothing for me,” 
answered Jonathan. “After his death I had to 
earn my bread in the house of a stranger, and was 
sent hither to attend to some business entrusted to 
me, which, however, is satisfactorily arranged. I 
shall soon return to Holland.” 

“Head ! My good old friend Monkenwyk dead ! 
And his son under the necessity of being a servant 
of another!” said old Mr. Knievel to himself “ No, 
no, no I This must not, shall not be. You will 
not immediately return to Holland ; and I hope 
you will first go home with me and make me a visit 
of a few weeks or months. No denial, young 
friend I I am an old stubborn man, and what I 
desire, must in all cases be done. The savior of 
my life, and at the same time the son of my best 
friend, must not go hence, without taking with him 
some tokens of my love and gratitude. The mat- 
ter is decided 1” 

“ And the birds are roasted !” added Peter in a 
humorous tone. “Accept the invitation without 
much reflection, Jonathan. One does not thus 
meet an old friend of one’s father in the primal 
forest, afford him aid, and then, an hour afterward, 
leave him again. We will go with you, Sir, most 
certainly. This is decided, as you very well re- 
marked ; and now, help yourself ; it is said that 
parrots do not taste badly, and these are so ex- 
cellently brown as if the greatest adept in cooking 
had roasted them on the spit.” 

Not without reason did Peter praise his skill in 
cooking ; and even Mr. Knievel thought, that upon 
the whole, it was a pleasanter business to eat par- 
rots than to be eaten by wild panthers I They ate, 
and also drank with a hunter’s relish ; and before 


82 


the birds were quite consumed, Jonathan had given 
his promise to accompany Mr. Knieval to his plan- 
tation, on this condition however, that his friend 
and host at Paramaribo should be immediately 
informed of the reason of his detention. Mr. 
Knieval promised to have this attended to ; and 
on the following day our friends found themselves 
on the plantation of the old gentleman, and in his 
house, which resembled more a palace than the 
residence of a private man. Here, too, they dis- 
covered that Mr. Knieval had neither wife, children, 
nor any relatives ; and Peter had his own thoughts 
in regard to these things ! 

“ Who knows what all this may signify said 
he to himself. The fourteenth shot v/hich Jona- 
than fired, appears to have hit specially well, and 
the two panthers were not a bad Christmas present 
for the Herr Knieval. Let us see what will grow 
out of this whole affair !” 


CHAPTER YI. 

* 

THE RETURN HOME. 

Once more the winter was approaching, and 
with it the beloved Christmas festival, when on a 
stormy November evening, two men were going 
along the. streets of Rotterdam, and nearing the 
house of Mr. Cornelius Beukelaer. Notwithstand- 
ing the darkness which was already gathering 
around them, they knew well how to find their way, 
and stood at length before a stately three-story 
house, the entrance of which was illuminated by 
two large lanterns which stood on iron lamp-posts. 


83 


“ Here it is !” saidone of the two men. “Although 
nearly twelve years have passed since I last entered 
this door, it is as familiar to me as if I had gone 
daily out and in. “What think you, Jonathan? 
Will the Herr Beukelaer easily recognize us ?” 

“ I doubt it much,” answered the other. “ But 
let us enter, I long to shake the old gentleman’s 
hands to whom we owe all our good fortune.” 

The first made no reply, but stepped quickly 
into the house, opened a door and led his com- 
panion into a light, high-arched room in the first 
story of the house. They found themselves in the 
business place of the wealthy Beukelaer and asked 
the chief book-keeper whether they could speak to 
the jDroprietor. 

„ It is now late, he has already withdrawn, and 
in that case he does not easily allow himself to be 
disturbed,” was the answer of the book-keeper, 
“still, if your business is very urgent, then ” 

‘‘ It is so urgent that we cannot delay a mo- 
ment,” replied one of the strangers. “Announce 
us to him, I beseech you, and I will stand for the 
consequences.” 

The book-keeper measured both of them with a 
hasty glance, and as he very well saw that he had 
to do with men of respectability and weight, he 
made no further objection, but only asked, “Whom 
shall I announce ?” 

“ A couple of old friends from Surinam, who 
have only an hour ago landed in the harbor,” was 
the reply. 

The book-keeper withdrew, but in a few moments 
returned, and led the two strangers into the pri- 
vate room of Mr. Beukelaer. He had thrown back 
the shades of his lamp, and looked with earnest 


84 


expectation on the two strangers, who came smil- 
ingly toward him, whilst the book-keeper withdrew, 
and respectfully shut the door after him. 

“You do not know me, then. Sir,” said the 
younger of the two, whilst he placed himself so 
that the light from the lamp fell full into his face. 

Mr. Beukelaer shook his head, doubtingly. He 
saw before him a tall, slim young man, with large, 
sparkling black eyes, a heavy beard which shaded 
mouth and chin, and a deeply tanned skin, which 
plainly showed the effect of a long residence under 
a tropical sun. 

“ Really,” he said, at last, “ I cannot recollect. 
If I have ever had the honor of your acquaintance 
it must have been a long while ago.” 

^‘Yes, pretty long ago, nearly a dozen years,” 
replied the stranger with the same smile. “And 
this, my companion, you also do not know ?” 

Mr. Beukelaer cast a glance on the second 
stranger and shook his head again. 

“ Very well,” said the first, “then you remember 
at least, that about twelve years ago you sent a 
messenger to Paramaribo, in order ” 

“ Yes, yes, certainly,” interrupted Mr. Beukelaer 
abruptly, “ Jonathan Monkenwyk ! Do you know 
anything of him ? Did he send you to me ? Then 
you are heartily welcome. How is he getting along ? 
And the good lad Peter ? The last intelligence I 
had of them was from the plantation of a Mr. 
Knieval, to whom both had rendered a great ser- 
vice — saved his life, and so forth. Pray ! What 
have you to communicate to me from them ? I 
esteem them both very highly, especially the young 
Monkenwyk, to whom I owe many thanks.” 

“ And he owes no less to you,” said the stranger, 


85 


with much feeling. “ But is it possible, that a few 
years in a tropical climate could so change me and 
my companion, that you should not know us ? Can 
you not guess, most respected §ir ? I bring you a 
thousand greetings from Mr. Seyders in Para- 
maribo I ” 

“ Thanks, thanks ! But nothing from Jonathan ? 
Nothing at all 

“ My good Sir ! Jonathan stands in bodily form 
before you, and this is Peter Hemskerk, your for- 
mer warehouse superintendent and m}^ good friend.” 

Mr. Beukelaer gave forth a shriek of surprise, 
reached out both hands toward Jonathan, surveyed 
once more their sunburnt faces, and now gradually 
recognized them. 

“ Thousand, thousand times welcome, my good 
Jonathan ! Heartily welcome, Peter I” he ex- 
claimed, and embraced the young men with very 
great joy. “ But who could have thought this I 
Such a surprise ! True, twelve years and a tropical 
sun ! This changes one’s appearance, and it is no 
wonder that I clid not know you at once. Of 
course, you must stay with me,” he continued, 
while he pulled the bell, “ I will immediately order 
the chamber to be n>ade ready ! Dear, dear me, 
what a surprise ! But what brings you here from 
Surinam, you good-for-nothing Jonathan, that you 
did not let yourself be heard from for so many 
years ?” 

“What brings me here?” answered Jonathan 
earnestly. “ The natural longing to see my home 
once more, and the desire to render reward.^'’ 

“ Reward ?” 

“ Yes, reward for all the good and the evil that 
was bestowed on me in the days of my youth 1” 

8 


“Ah, yes, I understand, my dear Jonathan, 
then you will no doubt have many an account to 
arrange and conclude,” said Mr. Beukelaer. “ But 
how goes it with you, my friend ? I hope well ? 
You can speak to me without reserve, for you well 
know we are old friends, and for such friends I 
have always an open place in my house !” 

“Thank you, good Sir,” replied Jonathan, “I 
expected nothing else ; and for the present, that is 
this night, is it not so, Peter? we will have to 
remain on your hands ?” 

“ That is pretty of you, Jonathan,” said Mr. 
Beukelaer, rejoicingly. “ ] 3 ut now, first of all, 
make yourselves at home, children 1 Ay, and here 
now, my old housekeeper brings the evening 
luncheon — here Ursula bring it forward and place 
it on the sofa-table ! — and now, whilst we enjoy our- 
pelves a bit, you will relate to me how fortune 
has used you, my dear Jonathan ! I suppose yours 
will be pretty nearly the same as Peter’s, for you 
were not far separated from each other ?” 

• “You have hit it exactly, dear Sir,” answered 
Peter, well pleased. “ In this respect all things 
stand as they did twelve years ago. Wherever 
Jonathan is, Peter is not far off.” 

“ Thought it must be so 1 ” said Mr. Beukelaer. 
“But now, Jonathan, I am very curious. Belate, 
relate to me I” 

“It is not much that I have to relate, although 
it is important enough for Peter and myself,” 
answered Jonathan. “As you received my last 
letter, in which I wrote 3’'Ou how a fortunate shot 
saved him, who afterwards became 1113^ truly paternal 
benefactor, from a fearful death from the claws and 
teeth of two panthers, I can pass over all the rest 


87 


and begin at once at that point. Mr. Knieval took 
Peter and me with him to his plantation, where we 
remained as visitors from one Tveek to another, 
when Mr. Knieval at length, as we were making 
earnest preparations to return to Paramaribo, de- 
clared to us plainly that he had learned to love us, 
and would on no account permit us to leave, as we 
had nothing in Europe to interest us, and had not 
even any near relations there. This was of course 
all true, for not long before this we had received 
the intelligence in Paramaribo from Holland that 
Peter’s father had died, and I also stood as one 
alone in the world. The kind encouragement of 
Mr. Knieval, the real paternal tenderness which 
he manifested especially to me, finally determined 
my decision. I promised to remain, and as soon 
as I had distinctly declared my purpose, Peter also 
hesitated not a moment, but said quaintly : “ Where 
Jonathan remains, Peter remains also !” 

“ Yery naturally,” said Mr. Beukelaer. 

" I communicated my determination to Mr. 
Seyders in Paramaribo, wrote also to you, at 
once, that I would not leave Surinam for several 
years ; received your reply, in which you approved 
of my decision and wished me good luck in my new 
position, and thus all was so far arranged. But very 
indifferent order and arrangement did we find on the 
plantation of Mr. Knieval ; and I soon discovered 
that both Peter and I, could be of some service 
to him. True, Mr. Knieval was very rich, had very 
extensive lands, and about eighty slaves to till 
them ; but his overseers neglected their duty, 
treated the slaves harshly, and failed to bring them 
to regular and orderly service. Mr. Knieval did 
not concern himself much about his plantations, 


88 


for he had wealth enough, and had neither children 
nor other relations that seemed near to him. Hence 
he let things take their own way, and Peter and I 
soon saw that he was being shamelessly deceived 
and cheated. Here then was a field of useful activ- 
ity for us. We gradually exposed his robbers, w'ho 
were promptly discharged, interested ourselves in 
the poor slaves, exercised a personal oversight in 
their behalf, in every respect improved their neg- 
lected condition, and in two 3mars succeeded in 
doubling the proceeds of the plantation. In four 
years it was found to be in the most flourishing 
condition, -and the slaves of Mr, Knieval were 
regarded as in the happiest condition of any in 
Surinam. I believe properly so. For they were 
always cheerful and in good humor, and loved 
their master like children their father.’’ 

It was no wonder then, Mr. Beukelaer,” said 
Peter, interrupting the remarks of Jonathan. 
“ You should have seen how carefully Jonathan 
watched over the poor slaves, how he had good 
and pleasant huts constructed for them, whereas 
before they had to encamp in stable-like sheds, 
how he assigned to each head of a family a piece 
of land for his own use, how he cared for the sick, 
and how he provided for them a Christmas festival 
eveiy year, of which the poor creatures in former 
years had not even the least conception. Yes, 
these Christmas times ! These Christmas times ! 
This was always a festival, good Mr. Beukelaer, 
during which one’s heart laughed in one’s body ! 
Music, eating, drinking, and all full of cheer, and 
then the distribution* of presents on Christmas- 
eve I Great and small together — a hundred and 
twenty negroes, with forty, fifty, sixty little picca- 


89 


ninies, all in the large hall of the Herr Knieval, 
and on a hundred tables young sweet-pine fruits, 
dates, with lights, and presents for every wooly- 
liead ; red kerchiefs, ribbons, play -things, jacks and 
knaves, — a true delight, dear Mr. Beukelaer ! and 
then the shouting and singing of the negroes — all 
ran, danced, jumped around the tables, men and 
women, old persons and children, all was one 
heart, one soul, one song of praise. I declare, 
great times were there ; and I saw how more 
than once the bright tears stood in the eyes 
of the Herr Knieval — pure tears of joy, rolling 
down over his cheeks ! Yes, Jonathan knew how 
to arrange things of this kind ; and he did it 
gladly. Christmas-eve w'as, and has ever re- 
mained, to him the happiest evening of the year — 
and of course, he had reason to hold Christmas in 
high estimation, for, to it he is indebted.” 

What ? for what is he indebted ?” asked Mr. 
Beukelaer with animation. 

“ Well, first of all, that we have become such 
good friends,” continued Peter, after a little refiec- 
tion, laughing. “ My friendship, it is very true, 
does not . amount to much, — but, nevertheless, if 
I had not so heartily loved Jonathan, I would 
not have thought of bringing him hither to you, 
good Mr. Beukelaer. And why did I love him ? 
Because he has such an excellent heart ! And 
then also because — it was such a good, such a 
blessed vow, that Jonathan made !” 

“ What kind of a vow ?” asked Mr. Beukelaer 
again. “ I hear nothing but new things here.” 

“ Well, that vow which he made on that Christ- 
mas-eve, that he would do at least some good, and 
make at least one pe7'son happy, on each returning 
8 * 


90 


Christmas,” answered Peter, while Jonathan was 
silent. “ This vow he made for himself in his 
childhood, and nobly has he kept it, and richly 
has God rewarded him for it !” 

“ Yes, how then ? Quite right !” said Mr. 
Beukelaer. “ I remember, this was the reason 
which induced me to send him to my friend in 
Surinam. On that Christmas-eve, yes, yes, then 
it was that I found out his good heart.” 

“ Exactly so,” said Peter, further. And after- 
wards, it was also on a Christmas-day, and on 
account of this vow, that he explored with me the 
region round Paramaribo, making the piccaninies 
happy in their huts, and afterwards shot the pan- 
ther ! Had he remained at home on the dear 
Christmas-da}^, had he forgotten what he had 
vowed in his childhood, then . . . But only 

go on, Jonathan, with your history, for we are 
getting quite away from the story.” 

“ Quite right, Peter ; and it was on the whole 
quite superfluous that you interrupted me,” replied 
Jonathan, a little confused by the many praises 
that had been lavished upon him. “ Short and 
sweet — the plantation of Mr. Knieval produced 
extraordinarily, his great wealth doubled itself, and 
every thing went on admirably, till suddenly my 
paternal friend was overtaken with severe sickness. 
We called in the best physicians from Paramaribo 
and the whole vicinity ; all the negroes prayed for 
the return of health to their excellent master. 
Peter and myself nursed him with unwearied care; 
our earnest wishes and prayers were not heard. 
God had otherwise decided. Mr. Knieval died, 
and we wept at his grave. To me it seemed as if 
1 had for the second time lost a kind father !” 


91 


“ Poor Jonathan/^ said Mr. Biickelaer with sym- 
pathy, as Jonathan paused, overcome by his feel- 
ings. “ And then it came to pass that you were 
no longer needed on the plantation, the heirs dis- 
missed you, and you had to return to Europe. 
Well, here also you have a paternal friend, who 
sincerely loves you, Jonathan. To my heart, my 
dear young friend !” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Beukelaer,” said Jonathan, as 
he warmly and tenderly embraced the old gentle- 
man. “ Thank you for your kindness. But as to 
the circumstances, they were, however, a little 
different from what you suppose. The day after 
the burial of this my second father, there came 
officers from Paramaribo, with the Will and Testa- 
ment which Mr. Knieval had there deposited a 
3"ear before his death, and the Governor himself 
accomiDanied them. Orders were given to call 
together all who belonged to the plantation. They 
came into the large hall, where we had celebrated 
so many a happy Christmas, and here now, when 
all were present, overseers, slaves, men and 
women, the Testament was opened. Think of my 
surprise, my feelings, my gratitude, Mr. Beuke- 
laer ; my sainted paternal friend made me sole 
heir of all his unnumbered wealth, and as a special 
legacy he gave our Peter a beautiful neighboring 
plantation which he had purchased shortly before 
his death, besides all appurtenances, with forty 
negroes, all the cash on hand at the time, and in 
general, all that was found on it. Tears flowed 
from my eyes — Peter cried like a child ; and so 
did our negroes — and this rejoiced my very heart 
— praised God aloud, that I should be their new 
master, whilst the Governor wished Peter and 


n 


me, success, and congratulated us for having to 
such an extent won the love of JVIr. Knieval.” 

“ Hey-day, my dear Jonathan,” said Mr. Beuk- 
elaer, quite affected. “ After such a turn of affairs 
I will not forget also to add my congratulations. 
God bless you, Jonathan ! And you also, Peter. 
Dear me, I am quite overwhelmed with emotion, 
joy and surprise ! Then you are both rich, and 
need not my assistance.” 

“ Not your assistance, Mr. Beukalaer ?” replied 
Jonathan with warmth; “but still your former 
kindness and friendship, and your pleasant sym 
pathy !” 

“ These 3^ou have, Jonathan !” exclaimed Mr. 
Beukelaer, and embraced his young friend anew. 
“ These you have with all m}^ heart, and with all 
my soul. And you no less, Peter ; for you always 
manifested a good and true spirit. I rejoice, chil- 
dren, that you have made 3^0111- fortunes in a distant 
land. And what a fortune, Jonathan ! He must 
indeed have left considerable property ?” 

“ That he has ; and I hope I shall be able to use 
it in his spirit,” answered Jonathan. 

“ But how is it that you are here, and both at the 
same time ?” asked Mr. Beukelaer. “ Have you 
sold the plantations ?” 

“Well — yes, and no, as one may take it,” said 
Peter. “ A good part of. the land Jonathan di- 
vided, presented to each slave familv and to every 
single slave as much as he can use, removed their 
huts on it, and finally, on last Christmas he gave 
every slave his freedom ! Very naturally I could 
not do anything else but follow his example, and 
on New Year’s day we carried out the second act in 
this pleasant play on my plantation. The remain- 


93 


der of both plantations, lands, buildings, machinery 
and so forth, were sold, and — here we are !” 

“ To every slave his freedom, and land besides !” 
exclaimed Mr. Beukelaer. “ But this is an im- 
mense sacrifice 

0 no, dear Sir, it is a gain for me,” answered 
J onathan earnestly. “ I have myself obtained my 
freedom by this means ; and when I think of the 
joy of the poor negroes, when the chains of their 
bondage were broken — when I think how happy 
every one was made by his little possessions, I 
bless, and will ever bless the hour, when God in- 
spired me with the thought to declare these slaves 
free men. It was a beautiful Christmas festival, 
perhaps the happiest one of my life.” 

“ Still your wealth has been not a little reduced 
by this Christmas act, my dear friend,” suggested 
Mr. Beukelaer. 

“ The most secure wealth is that which we have 
in the form of contentment of heart,” answered 
Jonathan pleasantly. ‘‘ And as for the rest — only 
ask Peter. He will tell you that we have still an 
abundance. Mr. Knievel had a large amount of 
money on interest, and our plantations sold well. 
No, no, friend Beukelaer, do not fear. We can 
comfortably await the coming Christmas ; we are 
not in want of means to dry yet many tears, and 
make many poor and needy persons happy. And 
now, my friend, several questions. Have you 
never heard anything of an old secretary of my 
sainted father, the honest Yanderhaans ?” 

'' Never, Jonathan.” 

“ Nor yet of his excellent housekeeper, the hon- 
est Liese Crabetje ?” 

“ Never, Jonathan ! How should I ?” 


94 


Still, still, it might have been possible,” an- 
swered Jonathan; “for before I went to Surinam, 
I wrote to Yanderhaan, and advised him to apply 
to you in case he or Liese should at any time have 
need of friendly assistance.” 

“ He never applied to me, Jonathan.” 

“ So, then let us hope that it goes well with both 
of them. But now, a last question : How goes it 
with the Mappels in Amsterdam ?” 

“ The rogues, who have cheated you, Jonathan ? 
Well, as much as I know, still just about as before. 
At least my correspondents in Amsterdam have 
reported nothing special in regard to them, which 
they certainly would have done, had any change 
taken place.” 

“ V ery well, then, we will have to see and seek 
with our own eyes,” said Jonathan. “ To-morrow 
we will leave for Amsterdam — is it not so, Peter ?” 

Peter bowed assent ; but Mr. Beukelaer would 
listen to nothing of the kind. But Jonathan did 
not suffer himself to be turned from his purpose. 

“We shall return again,” he said with much 
earnestness. “ First of all, however, I must per- 
form a sacred duty, the duty of rendering reward ! 
God has placed me in a condition to do this duty, 
and the Lord shall not find his servant unfaithful ! 
But no word beforehand to your correspondents in 
Amsterdam in regard to my return. I return as 
Mr. Knievel, and until the hour for bestowing re- 
ward has struck, no one shall suspect who conceals 
himself under this name.” 

Mr. Beukelaer saw that the purpose of his 
young friend was fixed, and urged him no more. 
The next morning Jonathan and Peter started for 
Amsterdam, where, without any further intima- 


95 


tion, they soon safely arrived, putting up at one of 
the best hotels. The public register the next day 
contained as new arrivals the names : ‘‘ Mynheer 
Knieval and attendant from Surinam.” No one 
could suspect that Jonathan Monkenwyk had, 
under this name, returned to his native city. 


CHAPTER YII. 

MYNHEER SEYBEL. 

There were now only a few days before Christ- 
mas would again return. Without, the snow 
whirled in large flakes, the storm blew cold from 
the northwest, and once again, as many years 
before, Jonathan sat at the window and gazed 
thoughtfully out into the agitated elements, which 
reminded him in so lively a manner of his child- 
hood, and the first Christmas which he had ever 
consciously enjoyed. That happy time came up 
before him softly gilded in the mellow glass of 
memory with all its earnest expectations and ful- 
filled hopes, and he would perhaps yet a long 
while have thought and dreamed of them, had not 
Peter started him from the reverie of his feelings. 
But Peter entered the room hastily, shook the snow 
from his hat and clothes, and exclaimed aloud : 
^‘Victory, Jonathan ! We have them ! But what is 
the matter with you ? you look dark and sad ?” 

“ No, no, Peter, at most only a little lonely,” 
replied Jonathan. “ Let it not distress you ; I 
was only thinking of bygone days, and of past 
vows. But why do you cry victory ? Have you 
at length discovered some indication ?” 


96 


“ More, Jonathan, more replied Peter. “They 
themselves, I have !” 

“ Whom ? My old Yanderhaan 

“Quite right I your old Yanderhaan, together 
with your old, good, honest Liese !” 

“ What good fortune I” exclaimed Jonathan, and 
sprang to his feet rejoiced, whilst he gave all sad 
thoughts to the sea of forgetfulness. “ But is it 
really true, Peter ? After all our unsuccessful 
search, and all our idle conjectures ?” 

“Yes, yes, yes ; at last they are found !” said 
Peter, triumphantly. “And do you know where 
they live, both of them ? In one of the remotest 
streets in the distant suburbs. And do you know 
what they are doing ? They have rented a little 
store-room, and are selling all kinds of little 
notions ; pots, sewing-thread, pickled cucumbers, 
old iron, and the dear knows w'hat more.” 

“ And how are they getting along, Peter ? How 
are they getting along ?” 

“Well, only middling, Jonathan. I think your 
Christmas festival will be a joyful one this time ? 
The poor old souls sustain themselves, but of 
course very poorly. I have made inquiries of the 
neighbors. Heard nothing of importance except 
praise, and pity that they are so very poor.” 

“ All right, Peter I God be praised that we are 
rich. But how did you find them at last ?” 

“In a very simple way, by means to which we 
should long since have resorted. I went to the 
police, spoke to the chief, promised a few ducats 
to him who should find them for us ; and scarcely 
two hours later I had the pleasure of relieving my- 
self of ten ducats to one of the policemen.” 

“ Excellent, Peter ! Now only get that Notary, 


97 


Seybel I You should at the same time have asked 
after him. A thousand ducats would I give to find 
out the rogue.” 

Ten are enough, Jonathan,” answered Peter, 
smiling. “ I have him already, the rogue, the 
Notary !” 

“ Impossible, Peter !” 

“ Well, then, I will have to confirm my words,” 
said Peter. “He is outside in the reception room, 
if you would speak to him !” 

“ Dear, dear me 1 Peter ; 5^011 overwhelm me with 
your surprising news ! How did you find him ?” 

“ Well, my ten ducats pleased the shrewd police- 
man, and I opened to him the prospect of ten 
more. An hour afterwards our Notary was found.” 

“ This I call news. And then ?” 

“ Then I enquired after his condition, and heard 
that he was in circumstances of the greatest pov- 
erty. Then I took my friend of the police as my 
guide, and made my way to Mynheer Seybel, told 
him that a very rich man, the Herr Knievel, from 
Surinam, wished to see him about some matters, 
promised him at the same time some ducats, and 
made anew the observation that a few ducats can 
produce a wonderful effect. . Mynheer Seybel at 
once manifested his readiness to accompany me, 
and — outside he waits.” 

“ He did not know you, Peter ?” 

“ By no means ! As little as he will know you. 
Ten years in the tropics changes faces.” 

“ Very well, bring him in, Peter, We must try 
to bring him to a confession, for without him we 
can do nothing with the Mappels. Bring him in, 
Peter.” 

Peter brought the Notary. Se3bel never was 


98 


blessed with a very commendatory exterior, but 
now he looked absolutely frightful as an image of 
misery, poverty, and ruin. Jonathan measured 
him with a searching glance, gave him a chair, 
and then asked briefly : 

‘‘ Do you know me, sir ?” 

“ I suppose the Herr Knievel ; did you not say 
so, sir 

“ Quite right, replied Jonathan, well satisfied, 
for he saw at once that Seybel did not recognize 
him. Listen to me : I had in Surinam a friend, 
who was not in the very best circumstances. His 
name was Monkenwyk, Jonathan Monkenwyk. 
Do you recollect this name 

“Yes, I remember it ; very well do I remember 
.it,” repeated the Notary earnestly. “I wish he 
were here !” 

“ Why do you wish this ?” 

“ Because I would make him rich I Rich, sir. 
As rich as David and Philip Mappel are I Yes, 
that I would. So help me God I And the Mappels 
should learn to know me, the rogues. ” 

“ So ; 1 see we shall understand each other, Mr. 
Seybel,” said Jonathan. “ My friend communi- 
cated some strange things to me in relation to the 
Mappels ; he even contended that the Mappels 
had cheated him out of all his inheritance, and 
also slandered the memory of his father after he 
was in his grave, by asserting that the old Mr. 
Monkenwyk was at his death a bankrupt.” 

“ So it is. Just so,” exclaimed the Notary in a 
bitter tone. “ The Mappels did cheat him, rob 
him, cast him out of his father’s house, and heap 
slanders on his father. The Mappels did it, and 
I, — I can prove it. I will prove it. I will cast 


99 


them down into the dust of humiliation, these 
Mappels, who have rewarded me with the most 
shameful ingratitude !” 

“ This you will do, Mr. Notary ? Really ?” 

Yes, I swear it, I will do it. Only bring me 
Jonathan Monkenwyk. Let him come ! I will 
discover all to him. He shall again have his 
house, his fortune, the reputation of his father, 
and the Mappels shall be cast out of Amsterdam 
as beggars and culprits, if only Mr. xVEonkenwyk 
will shield me !” 

“ In what way shield you asked Jonathan. 

“Well,” continued Seybel, “ if I reveal theA’as- 
cality of David and Philip Mappel, I will at the 
same time reveal my own, and expose myself to 
the same danger with them, namely, to be im- 
prisoned for life. This it is that has hitherto 
sealed my mouth. David Mappel knows it well, 
and for this reason he has never fulfilled his 
promises by which he first brought me into the 
wicked forgery.” 

“ Then there was forgery in the matter !” said 
Jonathan. 

“Yes, a forgery — as wicked a forgery as there 
ever was,” replied Seybel. “Bring me Jonathan 
Monkenwyk, induce him to allow me a small sum, 
just enough to keej^ me in bread in my old age, 
and I will make a full confession.” 

“ But this will still place you in a dangerous 
position.” 

“No, not if Mr. Monkenwyk will give me time, 
after my confession, to flee from Holland to France. 
There I will be safe.” 

“Still you would have to make youf statements 
before legal witnesses 1” 


100 


“ That 1 will do. That I will do ! But before 
they can take me I will be up and off.’’ 

“And how much do you wish to provide for 
your wants in the future ?” 

“ Two thousand ducats. Not more. It is only 
the fifth part of what David Mappel promised me, 
when he prevailed on me to make out forged docu- 
ments ; but I will be satisfied with this, if only 
this Mappel shall receive the reward due him. He 
has cheated me — not a penny did he pay me, and 
when I threatened him, he cast me out of his house 
with a laugh of derision ! He well knew that I 
dare not reveal anything without implicating my- 
self, and on this he staked all. But bring me Mr. 
Monkenwyk, and Mappel shall yet tremble before 
me !” 

“Well then, Mr. Seybel, look carefully at me,” 
said Jonathan now, and stood erect before the 
astonished man, “ I myself am Jonathan Mon- 
kenwyk !” 

Seybel sprang up, as if a thunderbolt had fallen 
at his side. 

“ Ah, you are deceiving me, as Mappel did !” he 
exclaimed in fear. “You allured me in here, to call 
out my secrets before a witness, to bring me to 
ruin. But it shall not benefit you. I was only 
joking. All is a lie. I have said nothing !” 

“ Peter, quickly, two thousand ducats,” said 
Jonathan, “to convince the Notary that we have 
by no means set a trap for him. Here, Sir No- 
taiy,” he continued, as he laid the ducats before 
him, “ convince yourself that I intend no deceit. 
And you, Peter, fetch the most celebrated jurists 
in Amsterdam. I have no doubt that Mr. Seybel 
will now repeat his confessions in their presence.” 


101 


Abashed, the Notary stared at him. At length 
he said, “ I have said it, and I will stand by it ! 
But Mynheer Monkenwyk, you know the second 
stipulation — an unhindered flight to France !” 

“ I have not forgotten that promise. Peter, an 
express coach must be provided and kept in readi- 
ness at the back door of the hotel. Your travel- 
ling expenses, Sir Notary, I will pay, and after you 
have made your statements in full, I shall add one 
thousand ducats more. Are you satisfied now 

“ I am. Mynheer. And that jmu may assure 
yourself that 1 am, take this card, the names of 
the three best jurists in Amsterdam are written 
ujoon it.” 

“Take the card, Peter,” said Jonathan, “and,” 
he added softly, “ ask the landlord whether the 
names are good. We must not trust a rogue too 
far, even when he promises to be honest. Do you 
understand ? Now, a post-chaise and the jurists !” 

Peter vanished. 

“ And now. Mynheer,’’ began Seybel, “ give me 
pen and paper. I will without delay write down 
my revelations, and make matters so plain as to 
confirm my words against them. I acted the ras- 
cal toward you, now I wdll endeavour to set things 
right again.” 

Jonathan gave him what ho desired, and the 
Notary wrote earnestly and without interruption, 
till Peter, in about an hour, returned with the 
jurists. Jonathan explained to them the business, 
and they at once declared themselves prepared to 
aid him in unraveling the rascality of David Map- 
pel. Meanwhile Mr. Seybel had finished his state- 
ments, handed it to one of the legal gentlemen who 
read it aloud. His confessions were particular, 

9 * 


102 


comprehensive, clear, j^lain and decided. Seybel 
had named every document that had been forged 
and that all those papers had been prepared after 
the death of old Mr. Monkeiiwyk ; that false dates 
and forged signatures had been attached to them, 
and that they were consequently illegal and in- 
valid. 

“ This -acknowledgment is fully sufficient to con- 
vict David Mappel as a notorious swindler,” said 
the oldest of the attorneys after the paper had 
been slowly and distinctly read. “ He must not 
onl}^ restore all the property of the deceased Mr. 
Monkenwyk to his son, but also pay all the costs, 
which will no doubt far exceed his means. Be- 
sides this, he is wholly in your power, Mr. Jona- 
than Monkenwyk. You can now, or at any time, 
cause him to be arrested. But in like manner 
also this Seybel, who was his assistant, and is his 
accessory in this business.” 

“I promised to save him from punishment,” said 
Jonathan. “But nothing in advance. Will the 
gentlemen attorneys now have the goodness to 
confirm the statement of Mr. Sejffiel ?” 

The document was confirmed and sealed. 

Meanwhile Jonathan gave the Notary an addi- 
tional thousand ducats, and also a hint softly and 
hastily to make good his escape. Seybel under- 
stood the hint and vanished. Two minutes later 
the rattling of a wagon was heard outside in the 
street going off* with a gallop, and Jonathan in- 
dicated his satisfaction by a smile. 

“Here is the document signed and sealed, Mr. 
Monkenwyk,” said one of the jurists. “ I con- 
gratulate you, for your case against the rascally 
Mappel is fully secured. But one thing more. My 


103 


conscience hardly permits me to let the Notary 
Seybel go free. He acted like a rogue and must 
be punished. Where is he ?” 

“In a four-horse courier coach on the way to the 
border, sir,” answered Jonathan. “He has done 
all he could in his circumstances — let him go. I 
for my part forgive him w^hat evil he has done 
me.” 

As the bird had already flown, the three jurists 
also declared themselves satisfied, and after Jona- 
than had richly rewarded them for their trouble, 
they withdrew with a respectful bow. Jonathan 
taking up the principal document, triumphantly 
said,“ Now, Peter, I look forward with joy to the 
next Christmas ! That will be a festival, such 
as I have never yet lived to see : A festival for 
THE REWARD OF THE GOOD, AND THE EVIL I And 
now, Peter, let us speak further on this subject.” 

They continued their conversation, and it was 
drawing towards midnight before they concluded 
their arrangements, which were of the highest in- 
terest to both. 


CHAPTER YIII. 

YET ANOTHER CHRISTMAS. 

At the fourth hour of the twenty-fourth day of 
December, 18..., in a small house in the remotest 
suburb of Amsterdam, an old man and an old 
woman, both still active and in good health, sat 
opposite each other in a very small store of the 
poorest kind, the little counter between them. 
They looked at each other with sad and depressed 


104 


countenances. Twilight had already cast its shad- 
ows through the small panes of the shop window 
— shadows which threatened very soon to pass 
into complete darkness, as the window Tvas filled 
with various kinds of articles, which almost shut 
out the full light of day. Papers of tobacco, 
strings, shoe-brushes, matches, stood and hung 
around to attract purchasers, who were not very 
plenty in this distant suburb of the city. During 
the whole afternoon the bell of the shop door had 
been heard at most only four or five times, and for 
the last half hour the door had not been opened. 

“ What think you,” said the woman at length, 
breaking the silence which had been undisturbed 
for a good long while, “ shall I not light the lamp ?” 

“ The lamp, Crabetje !” replied the man. “And 
what for ? For the customers will not come, anx- 
iously as we may await them ? No, no, Crabetje, 
we must save our oil !” 

The good old lady sighed heavily. “ A sad 
Christmas, my good Yanderhaan !” said she. “So 
sad as I have never yet seen it When I call to 
mind the old times, when the Herr Monkenwyk 
was yet living ! Then all was light, joy, and re- 
joicing ; and to-day — not even an oil lamp to 
iDrighten up our poverty !” 

“ That is true, Crabetje,” replied the former 
secretary of Mr. Monkenwyk. “We cannot riot 
in abundance like David Mappel and Company 
But I would not exchange with them, Crabetje. A 
good conscience on the holy Christmas-eve is of 
more value than all the treasures of the world !” 

“Quite right, my good Yanderhaan. They 
want a good conscience, but we want so many 
things.” 


“ Nearly everything, Crabetje ! Our business 
fares badly, and is not sufficient to bring us dry 
bread. Hem ! At last I will have to write to the 
Herr Beukelaer, that we may not starve, Crabetje. 
Who knows, perhaps, but he can also give us some 
information about Jonathan, our young friend.’’ 

Crabetje sighed again. “Alas ! where may he 
be ?” said she. “ Vanished and perished, perhaps ; 
unknown in a strange land, he has died of yellow 
fever. Did you not once say, my good Yanderhaan, 
that in Surinam the yellow fever carries away many, 
many persons ?” 

“Very true, Crabetje, many, but still not all! 
Jonathan is not necessarily among the many. I 
still cannot give up the hope that we shall some 
day see him again, Crabetje !” 

“In heaven, perhaps,” she replied sadly, “But 
now it is quite dark. Really, I must light the lamp. ” 

“ Then light it ! light it, Crabetje, although I am 
convinced that the light of the lamp will attract no 
purchasers.” 

“ Ah, who knows,” she replied, as she was light- 
ing a match and approaching the lamp. “ Hark, 
ye ! A wagon ! I hear it roll in the distance, and 
it is coming toward our house !” 

“Yes, yes, then to pass on,” replied Yanderhaan 
with a painful smile. “ For us there is no wagon 
in the world, Crabetje, except our shop scales, 
which, alas ! are but little in use. Here is the 
wagon, Crabetje, and here it passes on !” 

“ No, my good Yanderhaan, it is turning round; 
and, true as I live it stops before our house !” ex- 
claimed Crabetje, with astonishment. And there, 
some one is getting out— a large stately man ! 
Quick, my good Yanderhaan, open the door !’’ 


106 


The old Secretary did not think of attending to 
this suggestion, for he was by far too much over- 
come by the event of a wagon stopping before his 
door. Meanwhile the door was opened from with- 
out and the large, stately man, of whom Crabetje 
had spoken, stepped hastily into the little shop. 

“Good evening. Mynheer Yanderhaan ! good 
evening Liese Crabetje, and happy Christmas !” he 
exclaimed, greeting the astonished couple, whilst 
he extended his hand to both. “ Haste ! hat on, 
cloak on ! You must quickly step into the wagon 
and go with me !” 

“Whither? to whom. Mynheer?” stammered 
Yanderhaan, quite confused. 

“ To some one who will be glad to see you — to 
an old friend.” 

• “ Pah I We have no friends,” replied the old 
Secretary. “ Besides we cannot leave the shop 
alone.” 

“ Y^hy not ?” 

“Because customers may come !” 

“ Customers ? They will have to go elsewhere 
But what is your w'hole stock of wares worth ?” 

“ Well, five or six ducats, is it not so, Crabetje ?” 

“Here are ten, old Mr. Yanderhaan!” said the 
stranger, as he drew the money from his pocket 
and threw it on the table. “ Now your whole 
stock is mine, and now — forward !” 

“But, Mynheer who are you?” asked Yander- 
haan, trembling at such extravagance and gener- 
osity. 

“ That will reveal itself I Suppose me to be 
Knecht Ruprecht, who puts great and small chil- 
dren into his bag ! Only be in a hurry I Come !” 

“ Yes, yes, only come on, my good Yanderhaan,” 



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• 107 


said Crabetje, who had meanwhile surveyed the 
stranger with a sharp, searching glance. “ Do you 
not know our visitor ? Ah, I am not so easily de- 
ceived by a long beard, and a brown face. Peter 
Hemskerk, you are welcome, and God bless you 

“ Peter !” exclaimed Yanderhaan. “ Peter Hems- 
kerk, the son of the coachman I Can it be possible, 
is it possible ! Is it really you, sir 

“ Yes, yes, the same old Peter, since Crabetje 
has at any rate already recognised my silly face,” 
he answered, smiling. “But now, quick I Some- 
body is waiting for us !” 

“ Merciful God, I can imagine who I” exclaimed 
Yanderhaan. “Crabetje ‘where Peter is, Jona- 
than is not far off!’ ” 

“ That says nothing,” answered Peter, smiling. 
“ Only — forward 1” 

They resisted no longer, but with trembling 
haste cast a few pieces of clothing over themselves, 
then stepped into the wagon, which rattled away. 
It stopped at the hotel where Jonathan lodged. 
Peter led his guests into a dark room. “Wait 
here a few minutes,” said he, and departed. Yan- 
derhaan and Crabetje, in the highest state of ex- 
pectation, sank on a sofa, and Crabetje sighed from 
a heart overburdened with joy: “Wonder of won- 
ders ! Just this very day, on the dear Christmas 
festival, such a surprise ! Who, an hour ago, 
would have thought this, my good Yanderhaan ?” 

The old Secretary made no reply. The surprise 
had rendered him entirely helpless and speechless. 

At the same hour, perhaps a little earlier, at 
which the wagon arrived at the door of the little 
shop in the suburb, a second wagon stopped before 
the stately house on the market, which years ago 


108 


had belonged to old Mr. Monkenw3^k, and in which 
Jonathan had spent the first happy years of his 
youth. Two men stepped out, and desired with- 
out delay to see David Mappel, as they had busi- 
ness of the greatest importance to transact with 
him. They were announced and admitted. In 
the room into which they were led, were David 
Mappel and his nephew Philip. 

“ You wish to see me on business asked the 
first. It must be a very important matter wdiich 
brings you here so late and on Christmas-eve.” 

Very important, sir !” repeated one of the men. 
“And we must even request you to follow us with 
3^our nephew.” 

“To go with yon ? M^hither ?” 

“ To the man, who desires to settle with you.” 

“ Foolish !” exclaimed Mr. David Mappel, fret- 
fully. “ M^here is the man ? Let him come to 
me !” 

“ He desires your presence at his residence I 
Follow us thither. A vehicle awaits you at the 
door.” 

“Never!” exclaimed Mappel, angrily “What 
nonsense !” 

“ Will you not go with us, sir ?” 

“ No' and a thousand times no I” 

“Then you must replied the stranger emphat- 
icall3^, throwing his mantle back a little, which 
revealed his uniform. “ You recognize me ?” he 
continued, as Mr. Mappel drew back confounded. 
“ I am Lieutenant of the Police in this city, and 
this man here is my sergeant. Besides, here is a 
warrant which allows us to deliver you, if w^e wish, 
immediately at the prison. AY ill you now go with 
us?” 


109 


“ I will go,” replied Mr. Mappel, as pale as 
death. “But at whose instigation is this warrant 
made out 

“You will find that out. And now — I must 
ask you to move !” 

Pale and trembling, the two Mappels obeyed 
the police lieutenant, and stepped into the wagon, 
which drove away tow^ards the hotel where Jona- 
than lodged. Like Yanderhaan and Crabetje, they 
were led into a dark room, and here left to their 
ow'n thoughts. The lieutenant of the police with- 
drew from the room, carefully locking the door 
behind him, and went into another, brightly illum- 
inated, where Jonathan awaited his arrival. 

“ Ha ! are they here ? Did they come without 
resistance ?” 

“ Without resistance ; but, very naturally, with 
great reluctance,” replied the Lieutenant. 

“ All the same, if they are only here !” said 
Jonathan. “ The others must also be here. Here 
they are already ! I hear the wagon ! Bight — it 
stops.” 

Two minutes later Peter entered. 

“Well?” asked Jonathan. 

“All right 1” was the answer. “But some one 
must deceive old Crabetje ! She recognized me, 
Jonathan ; and very naturally she and Yanderhaan 
expect now to find you also.” 

“ It makes no difference, Peter ! A quarter of 
an hour earlier or later. They must and shall 
make the discovery at any rate. Hence we may 
begin the distribution.” 

“ I see nothing further to hinder.” 

“ Quickly, then ; we will not make them wait 
long. ” 

lO 


110 


They moved a large table into the midst of the 
room, spread a white cloth over it, and Peter 
brought a monstrous large sugar-tree with a hun- 
dred wax lights, from an adjoining room, and 
placed it on the table. Then the right and the left 
side of the table were spread with various articles ; 
complete suits of clothes for Vanderhaan and 
Crabetje, a multitude of beautiful notions ; and 
two little chests, each of which was filled with a 
hundred ducats, were prominently placed. When 
all things had been arranged, Jonathan placed the 
burning lamps on a second table to one side, on 
' which lay various writing utensils, and said : “ So 
far, all right. Bring the Mappels in. Sir Lieu- 
tenant.” 

A side door was opened, the lieutenant of the 
police made a sign, and the two Mappels entered 
into the room, with bewildered and astonished 
gaze, examining their surroundings and the two 
men before them. 

“ Draw this way. Mynheers David and Philip 
Mappel,” said Jonathan. “ Do you recognize me ?” 

“ Jonathan Monkenwyk !” stammered David 
Mappel, pale as death, and compelled to be sup- 
ported on the back of a chair to keep from sink- 
ing on the fioor, while Philip was looking round 
for some way of escape, but met only the sharp 
eye of the Lieutenant of the Police, who at the 
same time slyly showed him the barrel of a pistol. 

“ Yes, Jonathan Monkenwyk,” said Jonathan 
with a firm voice. “The eye of fear sees sharply, 
as I perceive. David Mappel, I have come to 
render reward and to take from you the unright- 
eous gains which you, through rascality, and at my 
expense, have gathered to yourself.” 


Ill 


“ It is not true, I deny it all I” exclaimed Map- 
pel in extraordinary fright, whilst his pale forehead 
was covered with large drops of sweat. 

Jonathan smiled derisively. “ Do you see this 
said he, and threw down before him the confession 
of Notary Seybel. 

David Mappel read, fell fainting on a chair, and 
moaned : “I am lost !” 

“ Yes, you are lost and completely in my power,” 
said Jonathan. ‘‘You see and realize this 

“ I acknowledge it ! Mercy, mercy. Mynheer 
Monkenwyk I” exclaimed Mappel pitifully, and fell 
on his knees. 

“Mercy ? And what mercy was shown me when 
I, as a beggar, was thrust out of my father’s house, 
and was by this one, Philip, insulted and injured 
in person ?” 

“ Mercy, mercy, sir I” exclaimed Philip also, and 
with uplifted hands in prayer, sank before Jona- 
than, on his knees, like his uncle. 

“Enough! rise up!” said Jonathan. “Sign 
these papers, Mr. Mappel. Here is a confession of 
your guilt, and of the property stolen from me ! 
Here — write !” 

David Mappel rose agitated, and with trembling 
hand signed his name to the document. “ Now I 
am a beggar,” he muttered as he finished. 

“You are yet lower than a beggar,” replied 
Jonathan, severely. “You owe me besides, the 
proceeds which during twelve years the property 
has yielded, and which you have approi^riated to 
your own use unrighteously. But of this here- 
after. Stand here ! Peter, kindle the lights on 
the Christmas tree, and then call in the rest. 
Their joy shall be the more a punishment to these 


112 


Peter did it. The Christmas tree cast a flood of 
light throughout the room ; and now Peter flung 
open the door into another side room. 

Vanderhaan ! Crahetje ! cornel” he called 
with a loud voice, and both came with a hasty 
bound as if they were still children to whom 
Christmas presents were to be distributed. But 
they had no eyes for the Christmas tree and the 
table ; only for J onathan their quick eyes searched, 
and with an outcry of ecstacy they fell upon his 
neck, when with a keen glance they had sjDied him 
out from the rest in the room. 

“ I observe that the eye of faithful attachment 
and love also sees sharply ! ” said Jonathan, 
smiling, whilst he returned the greetings of his 
old friends. “But here, Yanderhaanl Here, 
good Crabetje! Do you not see that here are 
Christmas presents for you 

They saw well enough, but did not yet wish to 
see — did not wish to see anything but their young 
friend, who stood so fresh and blooming before 
them. On the two Mappels, who stood there with 
their sinful faces, they also cast a few stolen 
glances of wonder, but the next second they were 
again forgotten, and their eyes rested again on Jon- 
athan, till he at length earnestly insisted that they 
must now also take a good look at the Christmas 
presents, which were intended for them. This was 
at last done ; and now came fresh gushes of sur- 
prise and joy in view of the excellent things, and 
the many, many presents, and both thought finally 
that there was by far too much, and that Jonathan 
was only making sport with his old servants. 

“Yes, sport, a good practical sport, you true- 
hearted souls 1” said Jonathan. “And here is 


113 


something more, Yanderhaan 1 And also for you, 
Crabetje !” 

He gave to each one a paper. When they read 
it, both trembled with joy, and cast a second 
glance at the Mappels, who also trembled, but for 
fear and dread, and perhaps also from envy. 

“What!” exclaimed Yanderhaan. “I Chief 
Book-keeper with Monkenwyk and Company ?” 

“ And I Chief House-keej^er with Monkenwyk ?” 
exclaimed the old Crabetje. “ Do I dream ? The 
old times are to return — the old times in the house 
of Monkenwyk ?” 

“ In the same house, good Crabetje ; replied 
Jonathan. “Mr. Mappel has had the goodness to 
give back to me the inheritance of my father. ” 
“Ah 1” said Yanderhaan. “ Ah, I understand ! 
The sun has brought everything into the light I 
God bless you, my dear young friend. And here’s 
my hand ; old Yanderhaan will be a faithful serv- 
ant to you till the end of his life. ” 

“And old Crabetje a good house-keeper 1” said 
the good Liese with joyful countenance. “ For- 
tune and blessing forever from above to the newly 
established house of Monkenwy’'k I” 

Yes, this was a time of joy for the true and 
faithful old souls, a joy such as they had never 
hoped again to see. But this pleasurable intoxi- 
cation had at length to grow calmer, and Peter 
thought again of the two Mappels, who stood con- 
founded with shame in the darkest corner of the 
room ; did not lift their eyes from the floor, and, 
alas ! — could not rejoice loith them that were joyful. 

“ What shall be done with them, Jonathan ?” 
asked Peter. “ You will not let your revenge go 
to the utmost ? At least not on this evening, 
lo* H 


114 


Jonathan I Remember it is the holy Christmas 
Eve!” 

Jonathan smiled mildly. “ Peter,” said he, “ do 
you really suppose that I could practice revenge 
on this evening, after I have refreshed my heart 
and soul in the joyful company of the good ? No, 
Peter, may they be forgiven ; for I only sought 
RESTITUTION I Go I” he said, turning towards the 
two Mappels. “ Go I You are free ; and I de- 
mand of you no further satisfaction. Depart — 
and peace be with you I” 

“0, the good Jonathan I” exclaimed old Yan- 
derhaan. “ He speaks as the angel of God, that 
came in that blessed night of salvation. ‘ Behold, 
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall 
be to all people I For unto you is born this day, 
in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the 
Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
peace, good will towards men !’ ” 

“ Amen I” said Peter; and the Mappels, deeply 
humbled, sneaked away I 

How long Jonathan and Peter, old Yander- 
haan and Crabetje enjoyed themselves together, 
talking over old and new times, on that glorious 
Christmas — I have not been able to learn. But 
so much they said afterwards, that a more beau- 
tiful Christmas festival no one certainly had ever 
seen, than the one enjoyed on this blessed Christ- 
mas evening, which witnessed at once the reward 
of the good, and of the evil I 


THE END. 


1855 . 


1875 . 


LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

No. 42 NOETH NINTH STEEET, PHILADELPHIA. 

•T". K. ShryocJc, Superintendent. 


E take pleasure in announcing to the 
Church and to the Trade in general, that 
we have commenced the publication of 

as follows: 

^THE COTTAGE by the LAKE/^ 

Translated from the German of Martin Claudius, by 
Miss R. H. SCHIVELY. When the need is sorest God’s 

m 

help is nearest.” 

16mo, Cloth, a Beautiful Frontispiece, 160 pages, $0.75. 

This volume will supply a want in our Sunday-school 
Libraries, to which the Religious Press has called attention 
— books of a more devotional and evangelical character. 
The Wilmer Family is characteiized by all that makes the 


the 






2 


‘Schoenberg Cotta Family ’ SO univei sally attractive. * * * 
We can confidently recommend this book, translated with 
all elegance of diction, and with all the w irmth and pathos 
of the German heart. * * * All classes will be instructed 
and elevated by this kind of literature. It has charms for 
the youthful and the mature, and will profit every one ’* — 
Mrs E. B. S. 


THE MIDST OFTHE NORTH SEA.” 

From the German of Marie Roskowska, by 
J. F. Smith, Esq. 

16mo, Cloth, Two Engravings, $0.75. 

A story of life upon one of the lonely little islands (or 
Halligen) lying in the North Sea off the German coast. 
The loneliness and the dangers accompanying a residence 
upon these barren, marshy spots, are dramatically described, 
and the characteristics of the two families are painted most 
naturally. The incidents of “ Lost in the Fog,” “ The 
Shipwreck,” and “The Inundation,” are full of interest; 
and the earnest piety that pervades the narrative will recom- 
mend it to any Christian family or Sabbath School. The 
tale is full of excitement, and yet is anything but sensational. 


‘^ANTON, THE FISHERMAN.^' 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by Mrs. M. A. 

Manderson. 

16mo, Cloth. Three Fine Original Engravings, $0.85, 

“ A very interesting story of humble life, illustrating do- 
mestic happiness, and the prevalence of industry, manliness, 
and integrity — together with the providential deliverances 
that sometimes occur in the midst of the trials that beset 
the believing poor.” — T/ie Lutheran and Alissicnary, 
rhiladelpbia. 


3 


“Anton, the Fisherman.” — “We call the specia? at 
lention of the public to this beautiful book, just issued 
by the Lutheran Board of Publication. It is from the 
famous Hoffmann of Dresden, who has won a world-wide 
fame as the writer of popular stories for the young. The 
translation is so natural and graceful, that no one would 
suspect its German origin. The book is in the best style 
of book-making, and has elicited universal admiration. 
Let the Church encourage our publications, with a prompt, 
cheerful, and generous patronage .” — Lutheran Observer. 


^'Rene, the Little Savoyard.’^ 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by J. F. Smith, Esq. 
16mo, Cloth, Two Excellent Original Engravings, $0.85. 

“ I have just read with great pleasure, ‘ Ren^,’ in your 
very attractive Fatherland Series. It is a brilliant little 
story, and is well translated. The children (and their 
parents) will be delighted with these pure and beautiful 
books, which I hope may have the wide circulation they 
deserve.” Yours, C. P. Krauth. 


“FRITZ; OR, FILIAL LOVE.’’ 

By Franz Hoffmann. Translated by M. A. Manderson 
16mo, Cloth, One First Class Original Engraving, $0.65. 

“A charming story, founded upon the life of one of 
Frederick the Great’s generals. The healthy pious tone 
that pervades the book, as well as the literary merit, should 
recommend it to every family and Sunday-school Library. 
We venture to say that no boy will read this pleasant nar- 
rative without wishing to know m're of Prussia’s great 
king. 


4 


‘^GEYER WaLTY; 

OR, FIDELITY REWARDED.” 

By Fraiiz Hoffmann. Translated by M. A. Mandersom, 

16mo, Cloth, Seven Superior Original Engravings, 

drawn by D. R. Knight, Esq., and engraved by Van Ingen & Snyder, » 
their very best manner, and printed on the best quality of plate paper. 

\ We have no fear, in offering this beautiful book to our 
patrons, that they will not be pleased with it, either in a 
literary or artistic point of view. Geyer Walty is a sturdy, 
healthy story, worth reading by young or by old, and will 
bear comparison with the best tales of its class. No pains 
have been spared upon this volume, the translation and en- 
gravings being all original, and of the most expensive 
character. 

The present book is the last of the first set of the Fa 
THERLAND SERIES. The 6 volumes will be put up in an 
extra neat case, and will be sold at $5.00, including the box. 

Other Volumes are in preparation, and will be pub- 
lished as rapidly as possible. We trust that in future The 
Lutheran Church will feel that the interests of our 
Sunday Schools will not be neglected. 

We call upon the entire Church to aid us in our efforts. 

The Board of Publication have entered upon this under- 
taking by no means unadvisedly. Co-operating with numer- 
ous German scholars well read in this class of literature, 
we have selected a series of works to be published as 
rapidly as circumstances will permit — works that will 
surely commend themselves to all interested in the Sunday 
School and the family. 

The genuine religious sentiment, the touching pathos, the 
heartsomeness, as well as the dramatic interest of these 
stories of Hoffmann, of Horn, and of kindred writers, are 
well known to the German reader; and we trust by oui 


5 


ti-anslations to make German thought berter known to the 
youthful English reader, whom we hope to familiarize with 
scenes and incidents of the Fatherland. 

We ask the kind consideration and countenance of the 
Book Trade generally, but particularly of those engaged 
in the publishing and sale of Sunday-school books. 

We add a few of the many flattering notices we have 
received from our friends. 

The Fatherland Series. From the German. Phila- 
delphia : Lutheran Board of Publication. — “ Under this 
title the Lutheran Board of Publication have begun what 
promises to be an interesting and useful series of Sunday- 
school books. They comprise translations from some of 
the best German writers for the young, carefully selected 
from an evangelical stand-point, with a view to make Ger- 
man thought better known to English youthful readers, and 
to familiarize them with the scenes and incidents of German 
life. The two volumes just issued are entitled, ‘In the 
Midst of the North Sea,’ and ‘Anton, the Fisherman.* 
Both are interesting, capital books, having a good deal of 
dramatic power, and pervaded by a beautiful Christian 
fa th and simplicity. The first named shows the sad evils 
of an envious, jealous spirit; and the last is a testimony 
to the sure word of Scripture, ‘ Trust in the Lord and do 
good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall 
l)e fed .’” — The Sunday-school Times. 

Lawrence^ Kansas, March I, 1870. 

«Your books lately published, ‘In the Midst of the 
North Sea,’ and ‘ Anton, the Fisherman,’ are first rate, and 
with such books your reputation will soon be established. 
I am well pleased with your commendable efforts and 
xuccess in gd ting out good book?. 

“Yours, H. B. Belmeil.” 


6 


New Middletown i March 2, 1870. 
i received ‘ In the Midst of the North Sea/ sent bj 
fou a couple of weeks since. Thank you for your kindness 
in sending it. Have read it carefully. Am highly pleased 
with it. Think it a perfect gem for the Sabbath School. 
Besides many other valuable lessons, it clearly exhibits the 
hand of Providence in the preservation of the Islanders. 

« Yours, J. B. Miller.” 

Bainbridge, Pa., March 7, 1870. 

I have read * Anton/ and am even better pleased with 
it than I was with ‘ In the Midst of the North Sea.’ Good, 
better. I am, truly and fraternally, 

« Yours, F. T. Hoover.” 

New Germantown, March 15, 1870. 

** The publications you send me are admirable every way 
and I only wish I could sell many of them for you. 

Yours, J. C. Duy.” 

Sharpsville, Tipton Co., Ind., March 20, 1870 
“ I hereby acknowledge the receipt of two volumes of 
your Sunday-school Publications, ‘ North Sea,’ and ‘Anton.’ 
i have hastily perused these little narratives, and find them 
very interesting and spicy, and can heartily recommend 
them to the Sabbath School and the public generally, as 
safe companions for both young and old. 

“ A. H. Scherer.” 

Harrisburg, March 29, 1870. 
“‘How do I like the series?’ Well, really, I hardly 
know how to express myself; but I have a little four-year- 
old chip of the old block, who, when anything pleases 
him very mu h, says, ‘ Do it again.’ Now, that is just what 


7 

i say to the publisher and the translator : Do ii again, and 
you do the Church good. 

“ Fraternally yours, Jno. J. Rebman." 

Croton Landing, March 30, 1870. 
am very much pleased with your ‘Fatherland 
Series.’ Yours, truly, W. B. Askam.” 

College Hill, O., March 30, 1870. 

“ Enclosed pleased find 85 cents for Rend, which I read 
with zest, and think it to be a good book for our Amencan 
youth. Yours in X., J. C. Brodfuehrer.” 

Newton, Iowa, April 7, 1870. ' 

“Your new books, translations from the German, are 
highly popular. Go on with the good work. We are glad 
to get them as fast as published. 

“Yours in Gospel bonds, H. S. Cook.” 

Smithsburg, Md., April 2, 1870. 

The books are beautiful and good. 

“Yours, L. J. Bell.” 

Orafigeville, III., April 2, 1870. 

“ I have just received yours of 25th ult., together with 
^Jie book you sent by mail. I have received three — ‘ North 
Sea,’ ‘ Anton,’ and ‘ Rene,’ which, by the way, are the 
most excellent Sunday-school books I have ever had the 
pleasure to examine, and I thank God that our Publication 
Society has the honor of bringing them before the public 
“ Yours, truly, J. K. Bloom.” 

Bainbridge, Pa., April 2, 1870. 

** Our school here at B. has ordered a copy of each of 
the Fatherland Series. I have read tfte opening chapter 
of ‘ Rend.’ Our librarian at Maytown, Mr. C. Peck, says 
it is the best Sunday-school book he has read for a long 
time. Yours. ‘ = F. T. Hoover.” 


8 


York^ Pa., April 1870. 

** Please send me ‘Cottage by the Lake.’ The othe 
volumes of the Fatherland Series I have. I am much 
pleased with the books. If you publish a thousand volumes, 
send them all to me, and draw on me for the amount they 
cost J. H. Menges.” 

Lockport, April 9, 1870. 

“ Since I have three of the Series you are publishing at 
present, I would desire to have the first number — ‘The 
Cottage by the Lake.’ This number you have not sent me. 
Those you sent me I read with great interest, and am much 
pleased with them, andJtrust they may be largely circulated, 

“ Yours, truly, M. Ort.” 

Canton, O., April 1870. 

•‘ Enclosed find the amount of your bill for the ‘ Father- 
land Series.’ The books are very interesting, and my 
children are delighted with them. 

“Yours, L, M. Kuhns.” 

Harrisburg, April 7, 1870. 

‘Your book entitled ‘Fritz,’ is all right. Go ahead; 
die more of that kind you publish the better. 

“ Your^, fraternally, G. F. Steeling.” 

Selinsgrove, April 6, 1870. 

“ I am glad to see you bringing out such nice, neat books. 
You can send us one copy of all new publications until 
otherwise ordered. Consider us standing subscribers. 

“ Yours, J. G. L. Shindel.” 

Frostburg, Md., April 6, 1870. 

“‘The Fatherland Series’ I am pleased with. They 
compare favorably with any of the publications of the day 
— are a credit to the Society. 

“ Yours, 


H. Bishop ” 


9 


Loysvilley April 2 >, 1870. 

*‘I received ‘In the Midst of the North Sea,’ and 
Anton, the Fisherman,’ and am pleased with them. 

“Yours, etc. P. Willard.* 

New Germantown y April 5, 1870. 

“The Fatherland Series are very beautiful specimens of 
book-making, and their contents are very interesting. My 
family are delighted with them, 

“Yours, truly, J. C. Duy.” 

Albany, N. K, April 5, 1870. 

“The last issue of the * Fatherland Series’ received. I 
am much pleased with all these books. You are now 
taking the right course to supply our Church with a Sun- 
day-school literature. You may send me one of each issue, 
as you have been doing, and let me know if I can assist 
you in any other way. 

“Yours, S. P. Sprecher.” 

New York, 196 id Avenue, April 6, 1870. 

“ I am delighted with the Series. 

“ Yours, truly, A. C. Wedekind.” 

Litchfield, III., April 1870, 

“I have received three books, ‘Anton,’ ‘ North Sea,’ and 
• Rene.’ I am well pleased with them. 

“ Yours, etc. B. F. Crouse.” 

Chambersburg, April df, 1870. 

“I have received ‘Rene,’ and it is a very interesting 
book. Yours, fraternally, C. Lepley.” 

Red Hook, N Y., April 4, 1870. 

“ * Rene ’ came to hand on FridajT last. Am delighted 
with it — feel quite proud of our Publication House. 

“Yours, truly, W. H. Luchenbach ’* 


r 


lO 

Loysville, April 9, 1870. 

“ I have read your Fatherland Series with much pleasure 
and profit. They are among the most interesting Sabbath- 
school books I have yet read. I could hardly wait till 
the second and third volumes arrived. The Church and 
Sabbath Schools certainly owe you a debt of gratitude for 
the interest you take in promoting and circulating such in- 
teresting Sabbath-school literature. May God bless you in 
your eftbrts, and the Church appreciate your labors ! 

“Yours, truly, D. Sell.” 

Wheeling, W. Va., April 1 1, 1870. 

“The Fatherland Series continue greatly to interest and 
please me. May still greater success attend your efforts is 
the prayer of Saml. B. Barnitz.” 

“ The translation of ‘ Die Halligen ’ and of ‘ Anton ’ is 
pure and good, and we have nothing but praise to utter in 
regard to the taste and style in which the agent of the 
Board has sent them forth. They are good books for the 
young .” — Lutheran and Missionary, Phila. 

“‘Die Halligen; or. In the Midst of the North Sea,’ 
translated from the German of Marie Roskowska, for the 
Lutheran Board of Publication, is a scene from life under 
A circumstances little known to most of us — life on the flat 
islets of the North Sea. The tale is told with a delightful 
simplicity and piety, and the whole effect of the book is ex- 
cellent. Contentment is shown to be better than envy.” — 
Presbyterian Monthly. 

“‘Die Halligen; or. In the Midst of the North Sea. 
Those who dwell on small islands in the sea, and are given 
ap to a seafaring life, are often exposed to most imminent 
perils. Such was the case with those whose fortunes are 
portrayed in the preset t interesting narrative. In the mids/. 


II 


of all, however, tneir unwavering trust in Him who holds 
the destinies of all in His hands never failed them, and 
they accordingly experienced what may be truly termed 
miraculous deliverances. The translation is most happily 
executed, and the mechanical part of the work is such, also, 
as to commend it to favor.” — Refortned Messenger, Phila. 

“ Franz Hoffmann’s writings, in the original German, are 
deservedly popular. Their moral tendency is good, while 
they are highly entertaining. They are well worthy of the 
effort that is now made in different directions to clothe 
them in an English dress, for the benefit of the English 
community.” — Reformed Messenger, Phila. 

HOFFMANN, THE AUTHOR OF 

ANTON, THE FISHERMAN. 

BY REV. T. STORK, D. D. 

We announced last week, the publication of “Anton 
the Fisherman,” by the Lutheran Board of Publication. 
Before speaking of the book, we wish to say something 
about the author — Alex. Friedr. Franz Hoffmann, of 
Dresden. In his early life he was a bibliopolist in Bern- 
berg. But, soon weary of the mere mercantile handling 
of books, and following his literary tendencies, he spent 
some time in Halle, and attended a course of lectures on 
philosophy and physical science. He subsequently re- 
moved to Dresden, and began his literary career with an 
adaptation of the Thousand and One Nights,” for the 
young, which, with a few original stories, met with such 
Mniversal favor, that he afterward devoted himself to 
popular literature, with special • reference to the young. 
Since 1840, he has published more than a hundred differ- 


12 


ent stories, legends, etc., all of v. hich reached several 
editions, and many have been translated. He has, also, 
published since 1846, the ^^Deutschen Jugen Freund^^ one 
of the very best periodicals of its kind. The amount of 
his literary _abor seems almost incredible to an American. 
But we remember another great writer of fiction, who, after 
the age of fifty-six, produced thirty volumes in three years. 
Hoffmann has something of the genius and energy of Scott. 
When Scott began to break down from his great labors, 
Mr. Abercrombie implored him to desist from writing : “ I 
tell you what it is. Doctor,” said Scott, “when Molly puts 
the kettle on, you might as well say, don’t boil.” 

Hoffmann is among the most favorite of the almost in- 
numerable story-tellers of Germany. Our first acquaint- 
ance with him was made in this “ Anton, the Fisherman.” 
The firet three chapters were read to us from the manuscript 
by the translator. We were charmed. At first we thought 
a good deal of the interest we felt might be attributable 
to the reader, for there is something in the reading of a 
woman of culture and sensibility — the tremulous intona- 
tions of the voice, and the peculiar heart-emphasis — that 
always affects us; but a subsequent perusal of the story 
confirmed our first impressions of its exquisite beauty. 

This Anton is a narrative of humble life. It has variety 
of character and incident, without complexity or affectation ; 
it pictures domestic sorrow the most afflictive, without over- 
stepping the modesty of nature, or the simplicity of truth. 
The incidents are not only beautiful, but probable. They 
are such as might occur in any common life. The spirit 
of the narrative is not only moral, but rel gious. And yet 
the story has no formal moral for its end, which is always 
the case in a true work of art. The mo: al should be in 
the spirit of purity and power with which it acts, and so in 
this story of Anton you may make manifold moral uses of 
it. One of the most difficult things for writers of fiction, 


13 


is to give a true ideal of childhood, as any one can see by 
recalling the Mignone of Goethe, the Fenella of Scott, the 
little hi ell of Dickens. We do not say that Hoffmann has 
Stood this test of genius ; but in Louisa he has given us a 
child that is morally most beautiful and winsome, that 
reminds one of Hawthorne’s Pearl, “ who seems to have 
lost her pathway out of heaven, and found herself on earth, 
smiling with the sweetness of higher spheres, yet sombre 
also with the melancholy of this lower world.” 

Altogether, this story, in its religious tone and influence, 
as well as a work of art, is far above most of the current 
literature of our Sunday Schools. For there is a good deal 
written for this department, that is not much better than the 
brain-sick stories for namby-pamby magazines, and in which 
the young would find it as difficult to get any true idea of 
religion, as it would be to study finance in the tale of 
Aladdin, or to learn geography in Gulliver’s Travels. We 
will only add, that the translation is in pure and fluent 
English, with the graceful touch of a woman of culture and 
refinement; and our Superintendent has given us the book 
in a form and style of beauty that must win universal admi- 
ration. 

“ Blessings,” says Sancho, “ on the man that first invented 
sleep — it comes round one like a cloak, and covers him all 
over.” Blessings, we say, on the man that invented fiction. 
Blessings on all genuine story-tellers. Blessings on those 
who have enlarged the domain of the ideal, who call new 
inhabitants into this empire, with whom it is pleasant, as 
well as profitable, to be acquainted, who, while they min- 
ister to innocent pleasure, improve the heart . — Lutheran 
Observer^ Phila. 



14 


Sharon Centre, O., April 29, 1870. 

“I received two small volumes from your establishment. 
They are very tasty and carefully gotten up, and the stories 
are quite interesting, not only to children, but even to older 
persons. 

“ Resp’y yours^ J. Schauer.” 

THE COTTAOE BY* THE LAKE.— ANTON, THE 
FISHERMAN.— RENE, THE LITTLE 
SAVOYARD. 

(From the Lutheran Publication Society, No. 42 North 
Ninth Street, Philadelphia.) 

These volumes, beautiful and attractive in appearance, 
belong to the Fatherland Series, of which we have already 
announced: “In the Midst of the North Sea,” and “Fritz, 
or Filial Love.” 

“77/^ Cottage'’' is charming. Evangelical devotion and 
faith, which worketh by love, form a complete picture, life- 
like, and well deserving to be copied, not only by the cot- 
tager, but also by those inhabiting mansions. 

*‘Anton." Now this is the very book for both young 
and old. We see verified the blessed words ; “ Trust in 
the Lord and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, 
and verily thou shalt be fed.” 

^^Reni." All the little Savoyards we ever saw had dirty 
faces; but we have read some charming stories about them, 
and this is equal to any and all previous ones. 

No Sabbath-school library should be without this Series, 
lire Sunday-school Times says they “ are interesting and 
capital books — pervaded by a beautiful Christian faith and 
simplicity.” Rev. Dr. Krauth and Mrs. E. B. S. speak in 
the highest terms of them; and for a worider — the Lu- 
theran and Missionary and the Lutheran Observer see eye 
to eye, and unite in praising the same work — Lutheran 
Visitor, Columbia, S. C. 


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